Editing Gulf of California (section)

===Shores and tides===
The three general types of shores found in the gulf include [[rocky shore]], sandy beach, and tidal flat.

Some of the rich biodiversity and high [[endemism]] that characterize the gulf and make it such a hotspot for fishing can be attributed to seemingly insignificant factors, such as the types of rocks that make up a shore. Beaches with softer, more porous rocks (such as [[coquina]] limestone, [[rhyolite]]s, [[granite]], or [[diorite]]) generally have a higher species richness than those with harder, smoother rocks (such as [[basalt]] or [[diabase]]). Porous rocks will naturally have more cracks and crevices in them, making them ideal living spaces for many animals. The rocks themselves, however, generally need to be stable on the shore for a habitat to be stable. Additionally, the color of the rocks can affect the organisms living on a shore. For example, darker rocks will be significantly warmer than lighter ones, and can deter animals that do not have a high tolerance for heat.<ref name="Brusca" />

The northern gulf experiences tidal ranges of up to {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}}. Mixed [[semidiurnal tides]] are the norm throughout most of the Gulf.