File:Baja California (MODIS 2017-08-24).jpg

English: On August 17, 2017 NASA’s Terra satellite passed over Baja California, allowing the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard that satellite to capture a beautiful true-color image of the pale tans and greens of arid land juxtaposed to brilliant blue waters.

The image centers on two natural areas under protection by the government of Mexico. The Valle de la Cirios, which comprises most of the northern section of the image, came under protection in 2000. It is one of the largest protected areas in Mexico and covers over 9,600 sq. mi (25,000 sq. km) of desert and scrubland that is home to nearly 700 species of plants. South of Valle de la Cirios and lies El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve.

Encompassing two lagoons and a large stretch of land between them, El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve provides a winter home for gray whales and other marine mammals, and habitat for thousands of migratory waterfowl. The vegetation includes the plants of the Sonoran Desert, but green mangrove forests grow at the water’s edge. El Vizcaíno is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rich biodiversity. It is home to Bighorn Sheep and Pronghorn Antelope, among other species, and the waters off the coast are rich in biodiversity as well. While the region is sparsely inhabited, human activity has left its marks in cave painting found at more than 300 sites in El Vizcaíno.