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Ojo de Liebre Lagoon

April 18, 2024

Ojo de Liebre Lagoon (also known as Scammon's Lagoon[2]), translated into English as "hare eye lagoon", is a coastal lagoon located in Mulegé Municipality near the town of Guerrero Negro in the northwestern Baja California Sur state of Mexico. It lies approximately halfway between the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula and the U.S.-Mexico border, opening onto the Pacific Ocean.

Designations
Official nameLaguna Ojo de Liebre
Designated2 February 2004
Reference no.1339[1]
Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Mexico. Rectangle at lower right is evaporation pond for salt plant.
Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) at Laguna Ojo de Liebre

The lagoon is within the Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a Ramsar wetlands site. It also is the site of the biggest commercial saltworks plant in the world.[3] It is an important habitat for the reproduction and wintering of the gray whale and harbor seal, as well as other marine mammals including the California sea lion, northern elephant seal and blue whale. Four species of endangered marine turtles reproduce there. It is an important refuge for waterfowl in the winter.[4][5]

Encompassing both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major salt plant, Laguna Ojo de Liebre embodies the diverse worlds of natural habitat and industrialization.[3]

Tourism, now closely controlled, was formerly a threat to the gray whales.[4]

Geography edit

 
The lake and surroundings

Laguna Ojo de Liebre is a large, shallow salty watery habitat that is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) wide, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long and from 5–12 metres (16–39 ft) in depth. Relatively deep channels cut through the lagoon between its broad intertidal flats.[6] The climate is dry and warm; the annual temperature ranges from 18 °C and 22 °C. Annual rainfall can vary from none to 200 mm. The lagoon is surrounded by coastal dunes ranging from 12–15 metres (39–49 ft) in height, which support an unstable community of vegetation, and sandy beaches, some of them with shoals.[3][7]

Geology edit

Geological studies indicated that Laguna Ojo de Liebre began as a pocket beach on the coastal plain of Baja California at a time when the ocean was some 12 meters lower than today's level. Tidal changes resulted in the formation of inlets and sediment from nearby river gradually built a barrier to form the lagoon.[3]

Salt works edit

Industrialization is leaving its mark on the lagoon and surrounding area. There is a rectangular evaporation pond for the harvesting of salt, some large salt flats, and other barriers and channels built to enclose and flood shallow brine pans on the eastern side of the lagoon (yellow-greenish in color in the picture at right ).[3][6]

The Ojo de Liebre lagoon has the biggest saltworks plant in the world – Exportadora de Sal S.A. (ESSA). The company makes salt from seawater which is pumped into concentration ponds measuring 33,000 hectares. The salt plant creates an effluent called bittern (a liquor remaining after salt-boiling) that is discharged into the lagoon. In December 1997, 94 green turtles were found dead weeks after the company discharged bitterns into the lagoon. The bitterns were investigated for fluoride content and were found to contain over 100 mg per liter. ESSA had earlier claimed that the bitterns contained the same salts present as seawater, only more concentrated (20-fold). F− was found to be 60.5 times higher than F− in sea water. [8]

History edit

In December 1857, Charles Melville Scammon, in the brig Boston, accompanied by the schooner-tender Marin, under Lefft, first entered Laguna Ojo de Liebre to hunt the gray whales breeding there. They caught twenty.[9] Scammon returned to the lagoon the next winter (1858–59), this time with the bark Ocean Bird and the schooner-tenders A.M. Simpson and Kate, under Easton and Hale. He caught forty-seven cows, which produced 1,700 barrels (270 m3) of oil.[10] He was accompanied by six other vessels (five barks and one schooner), which obtained an additional 5,300 barrels (840 m3) of oil (about 150 whales). A high of eleven vessels visited the lagoon in the winter of 1859-60, but they obtained considerably less oil—4,970 barrels (790 m3) (c. 140 whales). Eight vessels (all sent by U.S. merchants, except one: the Russian brig Constantine, under Otto Wilhelm Lindholm) the next season got even less: a little over 3,300 barrels (520 m3) from about 90 whales. Only a few ships visited the lagoon the following three seasons—in the first season they obtained 1,900 barrels (300 m3); the second 1,200 barrels (190 m3); and in the third only about 250 barrels (40 m3). When the bark Louisa visited the lagoon in the winter of 1872-73 she only obtained 70 barrels (11 m3) of oil. It was abandoned after that.[9]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Laguna Ojo de Liebre". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Unnamed Resolution Concerning Gray Whales in Scammon's Lagoon". American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Mexico : Image of the Day". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 2009-09-27. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  4. ^ a b "World Heritage Nomination - Reserva del Vizcaino (Mexico)" (PDF). PDF. WCMC/UCN. 1993. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  5. ^ "Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  6. ^ a b "Sedimentology and Oceanography of Coastal Lagoons in Baja California, Mexico — Geological Society of America Bulletin". gsabulletin.gsapubs.org. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  7. ^ Fred B. Phleger, Clifford C. Ewing. . www.unep-wcmc.org. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  8. ^ Tovar, LR; Gutiérrez, ME; Cruz, G (2002). "Fluoride content by ion chromatography using a suppressed conductivity detector and osmolality of bitterns discharged into the Pacific Ocean from a saltworks: feasible causal agents in the mortality of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Ojo de Liebre lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico". Anal Sci. 18 (9): 1003–7. doi:10.2116/analsci.18.1003. PMID 12243394.
  9. ^ a b Henderson, David A. (1972). Men & Whales at Scammon's Lagoon. Los Angeles: Dawson’s Book Shop.
  10. ^ Scammon, Charles Melville, and David A. Henderson (1972). Journal aboard the bark Ocean Bird on a whaling voyage to Scammon's Lagoon, winter of 1858-59. Los Angeles: Dawson’s Book Shop.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links edit

  • "Grey Whales' Mexican Sanctuary to be Preserved". Press release. www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  • "El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve - Park Profile - Management". www.parkswatch.org. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  • "ET 4/99: Complaint against Mexican government and Mitsubishi for salt plant damage to gray whale nursery". www.sdearthtimes.com. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Whale Sanctuary of El Vazcaino, Mexico[permanent dead link]
  • Spalding, Mark. . www.planeta.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-30. Retrieved 2009-11-03.

27°45′N 114°15′W / 27.750°N 114.250°W / 27.750; -114.250

April 18, 2024
liebre, lagoon, also, known, scammon, lagoon, translated, into, english, hare, lagoon, coastal, lagoon, located, mulegé, municipality, near, town, guerrero, negro, northwestern, baja, california, state, mexico, lies, approximately, halfway, between, southern, . Ojo de Liebre Lagoon also known as Scammon s Lagoon 2 translated into English as hare eye lagoon is a coastal lagoon located in Mulege Municipality near the town of Guerrero Negro in the northwestern Baja California Sur state of Mexico It lies approximately halfway between the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula and the U S Mexico border opening onto the Pacific Ocean DesignationsRamsar WetlandOfficial nameLaguna Ojo de LiebreDesignated2 February 2004Reference no 1339 1 Laguna Ojo de Liebre Mexico Rectangle at lower right is evaporation pond for salt plant Gray whale Eschrichtius robustus at Laguna Ojo de LiebreThe lagoon is within the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a Ramsar wetlands site It also is the site of the biggest commercial saltworks plant in the world 3 It is an important habitat for the reproduction and wintering of the gray whale and harbor seal as well as other marine mammals including the California sea lion northern elephant seal and blue whale Four species of endangered marine turtles reproduce there It is an important refuge for waterfowl in the winter 4 5 Encompassing both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major salt plant Laguna Ojo de Liebre embodies the diverse worlds of natural habitat and industrialization 3 Tourism now closely controlled was formerly a threat to the gray whales 4 Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Geology 1 2 Salt works 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksGeography edit nbsp The lake and surroundingsLaguna Ojo de Liebre is a large shallow salty watery habitat that is 9 kilometres 5 6 mi wide 4 kilometres 2 5 mi long and from 5 12 metres 16 39 ft in depth Relatively deep channels cut through the lagoon between its broad intertidal flats 6 The climate is dry and warm the annual temperature ranges from 18 C and 22 C Annual rainfall can vary from none to 200 mm The lagoon is surrounded by coastal dunes ranging from 12 15 metres 39 49 ft in height which support an unstable community of vegetation and sandy beaches some of them with shoals 3 7 Geology edit Geological studies indicated that Laguna Ojo de Liebre began as a pocket beach on the coastal plain of Baja California at a time when the ocean was some 12 meters lower than today s level Tidal changes resulted in the formation of inlets and sediment from nearby river gradually built a barrier to form the lagoon 3 Salt works edit Industrialization is leaving its mark on the lagoon and surrounding area There is a rectangular evaporation pond for the harvesting of salt some large salt flats and other barriers and channels built to enclose and flood shallow brine pans on the eastern side of the lagoon yellow greenish in color in the picture at right 3 6 The Ojo de Liebre lagoon has the biggest saltworks plant in the world Exportadora de Sal S A ESSA The company makes salt from seawater which is pumped into concentration ponds measuring 33 000 hectares The salt plant creates an effluent called bittern a liquor remaining after salt boiling that is discharged into the lagoon In December 1997 94 green turtles were found dead weeks after the company discharged bitterns into the lagoon The bitterns were investigated for fluoride content and were found to contain over 100 mg per liter ESSA had earlier claimed that the bitterns contained the same salts present as seawater only more concentrated 20 fold F was found to be 60 5 times higher than F in sea water 8 History editIn December 1857 Charles Melville Scammon in the brig Boston accompanied by the schooner tender Marin under Lefft first entered Laguna Ojo de Liebre to hunt the gray whales breeding there They caught twenty 9 Scammon returned to the lagoon the next winter 1858 59 this time with the bark Ocean Bird and the schooner tenders A M Simpson and Kate under Easton and Hale He caught forty seven cows which produced 1 700 barrels 270 m3 of oil 10 He was accompanied by six other vessels five barks and one schooner which obtained an additional 5 300 barrels 840 m3 of oil about 150 whales A high of eleven vessels visited the lagoon in the winter of 1859 60 but they obtained considerably less oil 4 970 barrels 790 m3 c 140 whales Eight vessels all sent by U S merchants except one the Russian brig Constantine under Otto Wilhelm Lindholm the next season got even less a little over 3 300 barrels 520 m3 from about 90 whales Only a few ships visited the lagoon the following three seasons in the first season they obtained 1 900 barrels 300 m3 the second 1 200 barrels 190 m3 and in the third only about 250 barrels 40 m3 When the bark Louisa visited the lagoon in the winter of 1872 73 she only obtained 70 barrels 11 m3 of oil It was abandoned after that 9 See also editNatural history of Baja California Sur Ramsar sites in MexicoReferences edit Laguna Ojo de Liebre Ramsar Sites Information Service Retrieved 25 April 2018 Unnamed Resolution Concerning Gray Whales in Scammon s Lagoon American Society of Mammalogists Retrieved 2022 09 08 a b c d e Laguna Ojo de Liebre Mexico Image of the Day earthobservatory nasa gov 2009 09 27 Retrieved 2009 11 01 a b World Heritage Nomination Reserva del Vizcaino Mexico PDF PDF WCMC UCN 1993 Retrieved 2009 11 01 Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino UNESCO World Heritage Centre whc unesco org Retrieved 2009 11 01 a b Sedimentology and Oceanography of Coastal Lagoons in Baja California Mexico Geological Society of America Bulletin gsabulletin gsapubs org Retrieved 2009 11 01 Fred B Phleger Clifford C Ewing Protected Areas Programme Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino www unep wcmc org Archived from the original on 2008 10 12 Retrieved 2009 11 01 Tovar LR Gutierrez ME Cruz G 2002 Fluoride content by ion chromatography using a suppressed conductivity detector and osmolality of bitterns discharged into the Pacific Ocean from a saltworks feasible causal agents in the mortality of green turtles Chelonia mydas in the Ojo de Liebre lagoon Baja California Sur Mexico Anal Sci 18 9 1003 7 doi 10 2116 analsci 18 1003 PMID 12243394 a b Henderson David A 1972 Men amp Whales at Scammon s Lagoon Los Angeles Dawson s Book Shop Scammon Charles Melville and David A Henderson 1972 Journal aboard the bark Ocean Bird on a whaling voyage to Scammon s Lagoon winter of 1858 59 Los Angeles Dawson s Book Shop a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link External links edit Grey Whales Mexican Sanctuary to be Preserved Press release www unesco org Retrieved 2009 11 03 El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve Park Profile Management www parkswatch org Retrieved 2009 11 03 ET 4 99 Complaint against Mexican government and Mitsubishi for salt plant damage to gray whale nursery www sdearthtimes com Retrieved 2009 11 03 UNESCO World Heritage Sites Whale Sanctuary of El Vazcaino Mexico permanent dead link Spalding Mark Environmental Groups formally accuse Exportadora de Sal S A ESSA of Environmental Criminal Violations at its Guerrero Negro Saltworks www planeta com Archived from the original on 2008 08 30 Retrieved 2009 11 03 27 45 N 114 15 W 27 750 N 114 250 W 27 750 114 250 Portal nbsp Food Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ojo de Liebre Lagoon amp oldid 1194688792, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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