What is another name for the Mexican body of water, the “Sea of Cortez”?

The Sea of Cortez (English spelling) is a Mexican body of water that is bordered by Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa states. It is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean with a coastline of approximately 4000 km and depths of up to 3000 meters in the deepest parts. Named for the Spanish explorer, Hernan Cortes, the sea is known commonly in the United States as, “ The Gulf of California” and labelled as such on many English language maps. Also, in the Spanish language, it is called the Mar de Cortes.

The Sea of Cortez is renowned for the marine life and divers from around the world come to explore. Migratory species such as the Humpback Whale, California Gray Whale, Killer Whale, Manta Ray, Leatherback Sea Turtle, and the Blue Whale are found in the gulf. Endemic marine life include the Vaquita and the Totoaba Fish. Non-migratory sea life are Fin Whales and Sperm Whales. Many tourists flock to local restaurants for shrimp dinners cooked Mexican style.

Cities along the coast of the Sea of Cortez range from small fishing villages to larger resort towns: Cabo San Lucas, San Carlos, Bahia Kino, Puerto Penasco, La Paz, Guaymas, and Mulege. The resorts cater to tourists from around the world, though most are from other parts of Mexico and the USA.