GeoPearls - Projects

Isla Socorro (18°48'N., 110°59'W.), the largest island of the group, rises abruptly from the sea to a summit, 1,130m high. When viewed from seaward, this island has a barren and desolate appearance. Its surface is broken by furrows, small craters, and numerous ravines. The island is covered by a dense growth of cactus and sage with some grass, but the vegetation in general is of a low order. There are lava outcrops in places and lava lines the walls of many of the ravines.

Cabo Regla, the S extremity of the island, consists of a rocky bluff which is surmounted by a hill, 76m high. A small cove, with a rocky beach, lies about 0.5 mile E of the point and a village, with a church, stands on its W side. Two beacons form a range which leads to a boat landing at the head of the cove.

Bahia Braithwaite, entered 0.5 mile NE of the small cove, provides sheltered anchorage, from all except S and E winds, during December to June. Vessels can anchor, in depths of 18 to 20m, sand and shell with rock in places, about 0.3 mile offshore, with the highest peak of the island bearing 335°. This bay can be identified by a rocky beach at its head.

Bahia Cornwallis, entered NW of Cabo Regla, provides shelter from June to December, but vessels must anchor close inshore. The anchorage lies off the first of two white coral beaches to the W of Cabo Regla. Large vessels can anchor, in a depth of 15m, within Caleta Binner, a cove, which lies in the SE part of the bay.

Ensenada Grayson (Caleta Grayson), an inlet, lies 3 miles NW of Cabo Regla and is the location of a freshwater spring. The site is marked by the letter W over an inverted arrow cut into the face of the cliff. Several shallow rocks lie in the approach to this inlet.

Cabo Pearce, the E extremity of Isla Socorro, is dominated by a tableland which stands about 1 mile inland and is 305m high. It is reported that volcanic activity has formed new shoals in this vicinity and towards Bahia Braithwaite, the rock-fringed E extremity of the island. Vessels should navigate with caution.

Cabo Middleton, the N extremity of the island, consists of a low peninsula which is connected to the shore by a neck of sand. Rock Islets, two detached above-water rocks, lie about 1 mile offshore, 1 mile ENE of this point. It is reported that breakers have been sighted extending up to about 0.8 mile W from these rocks.

Anchorage can be taken by small craft within a deep and sheltered bight located at the E side of the cape. A bight located at the W side should be avoided due to several detached rocks lying in the entrance.

Cape Henslow, located 5 miles SW of Cabo Middleton, is the outer extremity of a small peninsula. This cape consists of vertical cliffs, 30m high. Oneal Rock (Piedra Oneal), steep-to and 13m high, lies about 1 mile NNW of the cape and is marked by breakers on its NW and SE sides.

Punta Tosca, the W extremity of Isla Socorro, is located 2.3 miles S of Cape Henslow.

This is a repost of a previous effort.  Socorro Island is the largest of the Revillagigedo Archipelago.  It is the site of recent volcanic activity. I believe there is a bird, the Socorro Island Dove, that is endangered due to feral cats.

Enjoy!

Labels: Digital Globe, EVS, Google Earth, island, island Landsat, map, Marplot, Mexico, Pacific, Revillagigedo

This is a repost of a previous effort. In fact, it is the last of the large islands within the Revillagigedo Archipelago. The water's near this island are frequented by fishermen. The island proper is the site of recent volcanic activity. It is much studied by volcanologists.

My original post had the following comments:

Isla San Benedicto (19°19'N., 110°49'W.), a barren and rocky island, lies 27 miles NNE of Isla Socorro and has two prominent peaks. The tallest peak is 297m high and rises near the S part of the island. When seen from a distance, these two peaks often appear as two distinct islets. Good anchorage can be taken off a small shingle beach located about midway along the E side of the island. Three small but high detached rocks lie within 0.2 mile of the W side of the island. A detached rock, with a least depth of 3m, lies about 0.8 mile W of the N extremity of the island. A shoal, with a depth of 28m, was reported (1963) to lie about 15 miles N of Isla San Benedicto. (SD Pub 153)

Enjoy!

Labels: Digital Globe, EVS, Google Earth, island, island Landsat, map, Marplot, Mexico, Pacific, Revillagigedo

I thought that this was an island that I had already posted.  Turns out that I posted Socorro and San Benedicto Islands, but not Clarion Island.  These three islands make up the Revillagegado Archipelago.  There is a fourth island.  It consists of a cluster of rocks. Roca Partida.

The islands are most frequently visited by fishermen, that is their surrounding waters.  Long-Range fishing boats leave San Diego and head to these islands on long trips (10-days).  The fishermen catch big fish.

Clarion Island is the farthest west of the three main islands.  From east to west you would encounter Socorro, San Benedicto and finally Clarion.  The other two are uninhabited.  Clarion has a small detachment of Mexican military stationed on the island.

Clarion does have some endangered species that were being destroyed by feral cats.  However, after an intensive effort and education the cats have been eradicated.

If you have difficulties reading the Flash presentation, go directly to my Flickr account and check out the set of images with the same name as the title of this post.

Enjoy!

Labels: Digital Globe, EVS, Google Earth, island Landsat, map, Marplot, Mexico, Pacific, Revillagigedo