Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-22
FACTS ABOUT
 LOWER CALIFORNIA
Isolated Peninsula About Which Lit
 tie is Generally Known
Special to The Bulletin )

(Special to The Bulletin.) Washington, D. C., May 21-Lower
 California, Mexico's isolated peninsula, the coast of which the Pacific Fleet
 of the United States is now patroIling, Is one of the least known territories in North America. The following facts
 concerning this arm of land, which
 projects about 800 miles southeastern
 " from the southern border of Cali
 forria, were given out by the National
 Geographic Society at Washington, D.
 C., today:
 The width of the peninsula varies
 rom about 30 to more than 100 miles,
 and Its irregular coaSt-lne, over 2,000
 miles long. is bordered by numerous islands. Being mainly mountainous,
 desert region, it is thinly peopled and
 presents many sharply contrasting conditions Low -scorched plains,
 where death by thirst awaits the
 traveller, lie close to the bases of
 towering granite peaks, belted by for
 eSts and capped in winter by snow:
 desolate plateaus of black lava look
 down on valleys scanned with green
 bordered streams.
 At the time of its discovery in 1533
 by an expedition sent out by Cortes In search of a fabulously rich island. It is estimated to have been inhab- lted by 25,00o Indians, who vigorously resented the intrusion and prevented
 d hold for more than a century The Jesuites then came in and were won derfuIly successful in exploring the peninsula and establishing missions Ihey established three main trails, one along each coast and the third down the middle. which serve as the regular routes of travel today. The Indians have vanished from all parts or their former territory, except a few In the extreme northern end
 in ' hA Toe parts of the territory have been visit ed. mainly by Americans. in search of mines and other natural resources but little of the knowledge gained has become available to the public Gold, silver, copper, iron and other minerals and much fertile land have been found but the scarcity of water, fuel. forage. and the difficulties of transportation have united with other causes to bring about failure to develop the re- sources.
 The climate of Lower California in general is hot and arid. Northern conditions are closely like these in aoJoining parts of southern Cali fernia; in the middle they are more arid but the extreme southern end. though arid tropical has more regu- lar summer rains, The peninsula suffers long periods of drought dur ing which no rainfall sufficient 10 start vegetatien occurs over large areas Tor periods of from three to live years. These dry periods may be succeeded by torrentfal rains, which sweep the country and roll great floods down to the sea. Surface water Is scarce and limited mainly to iso- lated Water-holes in the rocks or to springs from which small streams now short dtScance. The Rio Do- mingo is the one living stream within the peninsula which flows on the usr- lace From its source to the sea throughout the year. These condi- uons have resulted in the develop ment of the richest and most extra srdnary desert flora in the world 1 The bird and mammal life. hoUexrr, IS closely related to that of southern l california The plains abound with 1 small desert mammals, such as rvab- l oltS, pocket mice, kangaroo rats and | others, A large number of the small l er desert mammals never drink water. 1 It havlRgbeen found impossible to | teach some of them to take water in | saptidty> Antelope, mountain sheen, | saly large game animals
 The peninsula is thinly peopled and | enormous areas remain ninhsbited The most populous section is the re- slon south of La Paz, where rains are more regular than further north. A | eW small towns and widely scattered communities along the coast with a | limited number of villages, ranches md miners camps in the interior ,oVer the popula ton. Lower CaIifor- lia has territorial form ofs govern nent, and. owing to its great length s divided near the middle into a 1 northern and sourthern district. En- enada and La Paz being the respec- i've capitals.