Baja California[note 1] (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbaxa kaliˈfoɾnja]
(listen); ('Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign
State of Baja California (Spanish: Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja
California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and
westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a
state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja
California (El Territorio Norte de Baja California). It has an area of
70,113 km2 (27,071 sq mi) (3.57% of the land mass of Mexico) and
comprises the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula, north of
the 28th parallel, plus oceanic Guadalupe Island. The mainland portion
of the state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean; on the east
by Sonora, the U.S. state of Arizona, and the Gulf of California (also
known as the "Sea of Cortez" and "Vermilion Sea"); and on the south by
Baja California Sur. Its northern limit is the U.S. state of
California.The state has an estimated population of 3,315,766 (2015),
significantly higher than the sparsely populated Baja California Sur
to the south, and similar to San Diego County, California, to its
north. Over 75% of the population lives in the capital city, Mexicali;
in Ensenada; or in Tijuana. Other important cities include San Felipe,
Rosarito and Tecate. The population of the state is composed of
Mestizos, mostly migrants from other parts of Mexico, and, as with
most northern Mexican states, a large population of Mexicans of
Spanish ancestry, and also a large minority group of East Asian,
Middle Eastern and indigenous descent. Additionally, there is a large
immigrant population from the United States due to its proximity to
San Diego and the lower cost of living compared to San Diego. There is
also a significant population from Central America. Many immigrants
moved to Baja California for a better quality of life and the number
of higher-paying jobs in comparison to the rest of Mexico and Latin
America.Baja California is the twelfth largest state by area in
Mexico. Its geography ranges from beaches to forests and deserts. The
backbone of the state is the Sierra de Baja California, where Picacho
del Diablo, the highest point of the peninsula, is located. This
mountain range effectively divides the weather patterns in the state.
In the northwest, the weather is semi-dry and Mediterranean. In the
narrow center, the weather changes to be more humid due to altitude.
It is in this area where a few valleys can be found, such as the Valle
de Guadalupe, the major wine-producing area in Mexico. To the east of
the mountain range, the Sonoran Desert dominates the landscape. In the
south, the weather becomes drier and gives way to the Vizcaíno
Desert. The state is also home to numerous islands off both of its
shores. In fact, the westernmost point in Mexico, Guadalupe Island, is
part of Baja California. The Coronado Islands, Todos Santos islands
and Cedros Island are also on the Pacific shore. On the Gulf of
California, the biggest island is Angel de la Guarda Island, separated
from the peninsula by the deep and narrow Canal de Ballenas.The first
people came to the peninsula at least 11,000 years ago. At that time,
two main native groups are thought to have been present on the
peninsula â€" the Cochimí in the south, and several groups belonging
to the Yuman language family in the north, including the Kiliwa,
Paipai, Kumeyaay, Cocopa, and Quechan. These peoples were diverse in
their adaptations to the region. The Cochimí of the peninsula's
Central Desert were generalized hunter-gatherers who moved frequently;
however, the Cochimí on Cedros Island off the west coast developed a
strongly maritime economy. The Kiliwa, Paipai, and Kumeyaay in the
better-watered northwest were also hunter-gatherers, but that region
supported denser populations and a more sedentary lifestyle. The
Cocopa and Quechan of northeastern Baja California practiced
agriculture in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River. Baja California Biography, NetWorth, Height, Age, Weight, Family, Married, Son, Daughter