CALIFORNIA, LOWER (_Baja California_), a long narrow peninsula between
the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean, forming a territory of the
republic of Mexico. Pop. (1895), 42,245; (1900) 47,624. Lower California
is a southward extension of the State of California, United States, and
is touched by only one of the Mexican states, that of Sonora on the E.
The peninsula is about 760 m. long and from 30 to 150 m. wide, and has
an area of 58,328 sq. m. It is traversed throughout its entire length by
an irregular range of barren mountains, which slopes toward the Pacific
in a succession of low hills, but breaks down abruptly toward the Gulf.
The coast has two or three good sheltered bays, that of La Paz on the
Gulf side and of Magdalena on the Pacific side being best known. The
coast is bordered by numerous islands, especially on the eastern side.
The general appearance of the surface is arid and desolate, partly
because of the volcanic remains, and partly because of the scanty
rainfall, which is insufficient to support vegetation other than that of
the desert except in the deeper mountain valleys. The northern part is
hot and dry, like southern California, but the southern part receives
more rain and has some fertile tracts, with a mild and pleasant climate.
The principal natural product in this region is _orchil_, or Spanish
moss, but by means of irrigation the soil produces a considerable
variety of products, including sugar cane, cotton, cassava, cereals,
tobacco and grapes. Horses, sheep and cattle are raised in the fertile
valleys, but only to a limited extent. The territory is rich in
minerals, among which are gold, silver, copper, lead, gypsum, coal and
salt. The silver mines near La Paz were worked by the Jesuits as early
as 1700. There are also extensive pearl fisheries in the Gulf, La Paz
being the headquarters of the industry, and whale fisheries on the W.
coast in the vicinity of Magdalena Bay. The development of mining and
other industries in the territory has led to an extension of the
California railway system southward into the peninsula, with the Mexican
government's permission, the first section of 37 m. from the northern
frontier being completed and opened to traffic in 1907. The territory is
divided into two districts, the northern having its capital at the
insignificant little village of La Ensenada, on Todos Santos Bay, and
the southern having its capital at La Paz, at the head of a deep bay
op