Rocas Alijos

Rocas Alijos
The Rocas Alijos seen from the east
Waters	Pacific Ocean
Geographical location	24 ° 58 ′  N , 115 ° 46 ′  W Coordinates: 24 ° 58 ′  N , 115 ° 46 ′  W
Number of islands	3
Main island	Roca Sur (Roca Barrenada)
Total land area	0.001 km²
Residents	uninhabited
Map of the Rocas Alijos

The Rocas Alijos (also known as Escollos Alijos ) are an uninhabited archipelago of pinnacles in the Pacific Ocean , about 300 km from mainland Mexico . Politically, they belong to the community Comondú the Mexican state of Baja California Sur (South Baja California) .

description

The group consists of three larger rocky islands as well as numerous small and tiny rocks, which protrude steeply from the Pacific. The largest rock, Roca Sur ( Roca Barrenada , in English-language texts South Rock ), reaches a height of 34.5 m and a diameter of 20 to 30 meters. The rocks are of volcanic origin and are the result of solidified lava chimneys that were able to penetrate the sea surface at this point.

The Rocas Alijos were discovered by Spanish sailors as early as the middle of the 16th century , a map from 1598 shows the rocks under their current name. A first detailed description of the rocks was made by the pirate John Clipperton in 1704. The first scientific investigation of the rocks and the exact determination of their position were carried out in 1990 as part of the Cordell expedition led by Robert W. Schmieder ; the Roca Sur was also climbed for the first time.

The rocks are breeding grounds for numerous sea ​​birds .

 Map with all coordinates: OSM | WikiMap

The three rocks at a glance 

North → → South	Rock (island)	Name variant	English	Length m	Width m	Area ha	Height m	location
1	Roca Norte	(Roca Norte)	North Rock	20th	20th	0.03	25.8	24 ° 57 '39.6 "  N , 115 ° 45' 53.4"  W.
2	Roca de En medio	Roca Proa	Middle Rock formerly East Rock	25th	15th	0.03	18.3	24 ° 57 ′ 32.5 "  N , 115 ° 45 ′ 52.7"  W.
3	Roca Sur	Roca Barrenada	South rock	30th	20th	0.04	34.5	24 ° 57 ′ 31.1 "  N , 115 ° 45 ′ 57.2"  W.
	Rocas Alijos	Escollos Alijos	Alijos Rocks			0.10	34.5	24 ° 57 '35.3 "  N , 115 ° 45' 54.9"  W.

See also

• Revillagigedo Islands
• Baja California

source

• Wolfgang Schippke: "Rocas Alijos, Mexico's rocks far out" ( Memento from July 17, 2012 in the Internet Archive )

literature

• Robert W. Schmieder, Rocas Alijos (Monographiae Biologicae) , Springer Netherland, June 1996, ISBN 0-792-34056-6

Web links

Commons : Rocas Alijos  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Card with Roca Norte , Roca Proa and Roca Barrenada

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Buscan dar nombramiento a nueva isla Mexicana "Los Alijos"
2. ↑ Victor Busteros Angeles: Expedición al México de Ultramar
3. ↑ Schmieder p. 51 ( East Rock p. 44)
4. ↑ Schmieder p. 51
5. ↑ Schmieder p. 51
6. ↑ calculated
7. ↑ Schmieder Heights p. 67
8. ↑ Schmieder Koords p. 453