Montague Island, known inSpanish asIsla Montague, is an island at the mouth of theColorado River in themunicipality of Mexicali,Baja California,Mexico, and is part of theColorado River Delta and part of a broader region called theSalton Trough. It is about 32 km (20 mi) in length along its longest axis.[1]
The Colorado River Delta region experiences some of the highest tidal ranges in the world, up to 10 metres (33 ft), and at the highest tides, Montague Island is completely inundated. Although the islands in the delta have changed much over time, a map of the region shows Montague Island in 1873.[2] The island is uninhabited, as the climate is very hot, arid and the area occasionally floods.[1] The nearest inhabited town isEl Golfo de Santa Clara.
The climate in the region of the Island is extremely hot andarid, with average annual rainfall of 2.4 in (60 mm). Montague Island, as part of the Colorado river delta, has had its ecology radically altered by diversion and use of water upstream in the river. The only water reaching the delta, with the exception of occasional floods, isagricultural wastewater.[1]
At least seven species of water birds are known to breed on Montague Island. The island is one of two known active breeding colonies ofelegant tern in Mexico.[3] During two years, a large number of nests were destroyed bytidal flooding, but there were only low levels of nests lost topredation.[4] The birds nesting on Montague Island have reacted strongly toEl Niño, withbrown boobies being replaced byblue-footed boobies, and an increase in nesting of least, elegant, and royal terns, as well asblack skimmers.[5]
Montague Island is one of the few locations whereMulinia coloradoensis, an endangered species ofclam, is found. This species was once extremely abundant near the mouth of the Colorado river, but now only exists in a few isolated places. The decline of this clam is explained by the increase in salinity of the water due to diversion of and use of water from the Colorado river.[6]
In 1981,Pemex discoverednatural gas near the island, prompting a scramble for oil and gas leases in the nearby city ofYuma, Arizona.[7] The area has also been studied for the potential use oftidal power.[8]
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31°44′18″N114°44′47″W / 31.73833°N 114.74639°W /31.73833; -114.74639
