Editing Sonora (section)

===Protected areas===
Sonora has {{Convert|18,463|km2|sqmi}} of protected wildlife areas.<ref name="cartron74">Cartron, p. 74</ref> Protected natural areas in the state are of three types: biosphere reserves, areas for the protection of flora and fauna and areas for the protection of natural resources.<ref name="reservasgob">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/ |title=Reservas Ecológicas |publisher=Government of Sonora |location=Sonora Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Ecological Reserves |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204213725/http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/ }}</ref> The [[El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve|El Pinacate biosphere reserve]] is located between Puerto Peñasco and the United States border in the Altar Desert. The reserve consists of an area with a series of gigantic dormant volcanic craters, which are covered with flora and fauna. It is frequently visited by foreign tourists, researchers and photographers. The reserve has a site museum, which displays the area history from its formation to the present. The craters are named ''Badillo'', ''Molina'' or ''El Trébol'', ''Cerro Colorado'', ''Volcan Grande'', ''Caravajales'' and the largest, ''Mc Dougal''.<ref name="pinacategob">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/el-pinacate/ |title=El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar |publisher=Government of Sonora |location=Sonora Mexico |language=es |trans-title=El Pinacate and the Altar Desert |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204213734/http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/el-pinacate/ }}</ref>

The [[Cañón las Barajitas]] ("Barajitas Canyon") is a protected natural area that consists of three different ecosystems, located {{Convert|31|km|mi}} north of San Carlos. It contains a kilometer of beaches and a canyon which has two distinct microclimates, one arid and desert-like and the other subtropical. The area has a wide variety of fauna including whales, dolphins and [[manta ray]]s that can be seen off the coast depending on the season. Activities for visitors include [[kayaking]], [[Pedalo|paddleboats]], [[scuba diving]] and fishing. There are also caves as well as a solor observatory.<ref name="barajitasgob">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/playas/canon-las-barajitas/ |title=Cañón las Barajitas |publisher=Government of Sonora |location=Sonora Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Barajitas Canyon |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-date=February 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211202230/http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/playas/canon-las-barajitas/ }}</ref>

The [[Alto Golfo de California Biosphere Reserve|Alto Golfo y Delta]] ("Upper Gulf and Delta") biosphere reserve encompasses is in the northwest of Sonora and northeast of Baja California Norte at the northernmost part of the Gulf of California and the delta of the Colorado River. The area is home to a very large number of marine species. There are also rocky beaches along with those with fine sand. Some of these are home to groups of [[seal (mammal)|seals]] and sea lions. The reserve was created in 1993 and encompasses an area of 934,756 hectares. On land, there are arid scrub brush, [[coastal dunes]] and an [[estuary]]. It extends into the far upper part of the Gulf of California.<ref name="altogolfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/alto-golfo-y-delta/ |title=Alto Golfo y Delta |publisher=Government of Sonora |location=Sonora Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Upper Gulf and Delta |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207050537/http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/alto-golfo-y-delta/ }}</ref>

The [[Bahía e islas de San Jorge]] ("Bay and Islands of San Jorge"), covering {{Convert|130|km2|sqmi}}, are located on Sonora's northern coast between Caborca and Puerto Peñasco. The islands were first made a federal reserve in 1978 due to its importance to migratory birds. They are especially important to species such as the [[Sterna antillarum]], colonies of [[Sula leucogaster]], [[Myotis vivesi]] and [[Zalophus californianus]]. The islands are large rocks and are white from [[guano]]. The beaches extend for ten km and end at the bay of San Jorge on the south end. The area is home to sea lions and a type of bat that fishes. There are sand dunes with arid zone vegetation as well as a small estuary. The climate is very arid and semi hot with an average temperature of between {{Convert|18|and|22|°C|°F}}.<ref name="sanjorge">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/bahia-e-islas-de-san-jorge/ |title=Bahía e islas de San Jorge |publisher=Government of Sonora |location=Sonora Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Bay and islands of San Jorge |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204213731/http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/bahia-e-islas-de-san-jorge/ }}</ref>

The [[Isla Tiburón]] is an ecological reserve with about 300 species of plants with desert and marine wildlife. The island was once inhabited by the Seris, and they still consider it their territory.<ref name="tiburongob">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/isla-del-tiburon/ |title=Isla del Tiburón |publisher=Government of Sonora |location=Sonora Mexico |language=es |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204213739/http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/isla-del-tiburon/ }}</ref>

The [[La Mesa el Campanero-Arroyo El Reparo]] reserve is found in the municipality of Yécora. It is a mesa with mountains which cover {{Convert|43,000|ha|km2 sqmi}}, containing pine and tropical forests, rivers, [[Arroyo (watercourse)|arroyos]], rock formations and dirt roads. Due to its altitude of between 700 and 2100 meters above sea level, its temperatures are temperate for the state. It is part of the Sierra Madre Occidential bio region and in the upper basins of the Yaqui and Mayo rivers.<ref name="campanero">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/mesa-del-campanero/ |title=Mesa del Campanero |publisher=Government of Sonora |location=Sonora Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Campanero Mesa |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204213744/http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/destinos/reservas/mesa-del-campanero/ }}</ref>