Rocas Alijos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(South Rock partially cut off left)
Rocas Alijos (or Escollos Alijos, in English also Alijos Rocks) are a group of tiny, steep and barren volcanic islets or above-water (as well as below-water) rocks in the Pacific Ocean at . They are part Comondú municipality of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, and situated about 300 km west of the mainland. The total surface area is less than 1,000 square metres.
The group consists of three principal rocks and numerous smaller ones. South Rock, the largest of the group, is 34 meters high, with a diameter of only 14 meters (position ). The rocks seem to be known since the early Spanish history of Mexico; they can be found on a map from 1598. The first description is from 1704, by pirate John Clipperton. But only in 1791 the first exact description was made by a Spanish sailor. South Rock was climbed for the first time in 1990 by an expedition (October 31 through November 07, 1990) under the leadership of Robert W. Schmieder (Bob). A book was written by the expedition leader.
The group is located at the transition zone between two major biologic provinces, at a latitude where the Pacific Current turns westward to form the north Pacific trans-oceanic current. The rocks are nesting sites of many sea birds.
The two other Mexican island groups in the Pacific Ocean that are not on the continental shelf are Guadalupe Island and Revillagigedo Islands.
