- Illescas Peninsula
Illescas is a
peninsula in northwesternPeru . It forms the southern boundary of theSechura Bay , the largest bay in Peru. Sechura Bay also includes the northernmost portion of thePacific Ocean that is under the influence of the Peru-Chile orHumboldt Current . The Illescas Peninsula is located in the department ofPiura , and is scarcely inhabited. Illescas is also the name given to the highest point of the peninsula (500 m.), theCerro Illescas .A mountain between sea and a flatland desert
The Peninsula and Cerro Illescas are located more than 150 km west of the Andes, in the middle of a flatland desert, the
Sechura desert . The cerro is a series of small hills (up to 500 m. in elevation) interspersed by narrow and short valleys formed during rare rain events. Vegetation cover is extremely reduced in the peninsula, and only a few shrub and tree species grow in the area, especiallymesquite trees and shrubs locally known aszapote . An endemic species of fox, theSechura desert fox is found in the peninsula. Along the coast, and at its westernmost point, there are colonies ofsea lion s, blue-footed boobies andHumboldt penguin s.Regions
The only human settlement of the Illescas Peninsula is the fishermen town of
Bayovar .Geographic Features
*The
Punta Aguja is the westernmost point of the peninsula, and is inhabited by colonies of marine mammals and seabirds
*At the south end of Illescas,Playa sin fin extends for more than 100 km, and is the largest, ininterrupted sandy shore along the Peruvian coastline
*TheBayovar depression is an area north of Illescas, where a large area of the ground is below sea level (-34 m.). Large deposits of phosphorus ores and diatomite are found near the Bayovar depression
*TheEstuario de Virrila is a 30 km long canal entering theSechura desert from theSechura Bay . Despite its name, it is not anestuary .History
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