Gulf of California is an arm of the Pacific Ocean that lies between the Lower California peninsula and the mainland of Mexico. The Gulf of California was once known as the Sea of Cortés, because the Spanish adventurer Hernán Cortés first explored it in 1536. The gulf was also called the Vermilion Sea. Many kinds of fish, including big-game sailfish, can be found in the Gulf of California.
Oyster beds lie along the eastern shore. The western shore has pearl and sponge fisheries. The gulf is about 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) long, from 30 to 150 miles (48 to 241 kilometers) wide, and from 600 to 6,000 feet (180 to 1,800 meters) deep. The Colorado River is the largest stream that flows into the gulf. The gulf’s largest islands are Angel de la Guarda and Tiburon.
