La Bufadora
Encyclopedia
La Bufadora is a marine geyser
or blowhole located on the Punta Banda Peninsula in Baja California
, Mexico
. The spout of sea water is the result of air, trapped in a sea cave, exploding upwards. Air is forced into the cave by wave action and is released when the water recedes. This interaction not only creates the spout, but a thunderous noise as well. The phenomena repeats every minute or so with its volume depending on the strength of the waves.
La Bufadora is the one of the largest blowholes in North America, often shooting upwards more than 100 feet (30.5 m) above sea level. The exhibit hall roof top is approximately 80 feet (24.4 m) above sea level and the blowhole frequently sprays above it.
, a city located roughly 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) to the north. On days when cruise ships visit Ensenada, several bus lines compete to bring tourists to the site. The last few miles of the drive are especially beautiful, with long vistas over the sea from cliff tops, but fog can sometimes obscure the views. A very large number of vendors, often selling regional arts and crafts, curios, and food, congregate in small shops crammed side by side along the one-lane asphalted road to the blowhole. There are a few sit-down restaurants and a lot of take-away food shops. The blowhole itself is very hard to see from most parts of the viewing area, and some people climb up on the steep bare rock face above it to try to get a better view. This can be very dangerous due to slippery and wet rocks. On busy days, the number of local Mexican tourists jammed into the viewing area can be in the hundreds.
Blowhole (geology)
In geology, a blowhole is formed as sea caves grow landwards and upwards into vertical shafts and expose themselves towards the surface, which can result in blasts of water from the top of the blowhole if the geometry of the cave and blowhole and state of the weather are appropriate.A blowhole is...
or blowhole located on the Punta Banda Peninsula in Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The spout of sea water is the result of air, trapped in a sea cave, exploding upwards. Air is forced into the cave by wave action and is released when the water recedes. This interaction not only creates the spout, but a thunderous noise as well. The phenomena repeats every minute or so with its volume depending on the strength of the waves.
La Bufadora is the one of the largest blowholes in North America, often shooting upwards more than 100 feet (30.5 m) above sea level. The exhibit hall roof top is approximately 80 feet (24.4 m) above sea level and the blowhole frequently sprays above it.
Tourism
La Bufadora regularly draws tourists visiting EnsenadaEnsenada, Baja California
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific...
, a city located roughly 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) to the north. On days when cruise ships visit Ensenada, several bus lines compete to bring tourists to the site. The last few miles of the drive are especially beautiful, with long vistas over the sea from cliff tops, but fog can sometimes obscure the views. A very large number of vendors, often selling regional arts and crafts, curios, and food, congregate in small shops crammed side by side along the one-lane asphalted road to the blowhole. There are a few sit-down restaurants and a lot of take-away food shops. The blowhole itself is very hard to see from most parts of the viewing area, and some people climb up on the steep bare rock face above it to try to get a better view. This can be very dangerous due to slippery and wet rocks. On busy days, the number of local Mexican tourists jammed into the viewing area can be in the hundreds.