Colorado River Delta

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Colorado River Delta
River delta
Satellite view of the Colorado River Delta featuring Isla Montague and the Ciénaga de Santa Clara wetland
Colorado River Delta Location of the Colorado River Delta in Mexico Show map of Mexico Colorado River Delta Location of the Colorado River Delta in North America Show map of North America
Coordinates: 31°44′N 114°40′W / 31.74°N 114.66°W / 31.74; -114.66
Location	Baja California and Sonora, Mexico
Part of	Colorado River
Offshore water bodies	Gulf of California
Area
• Total	7,810 hectares (19,300 acres) (historical)
Designations Ramsar Wetland Official name Humedales del Delta del Río Colorado Designated 20 March 1996 Reference no. 814[1]

The Colorado River Delta is the region where the Colorado River flows into the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) in eastern Mexicali Municipality in the north of the state of Baja California in northwesternmost Mexico. The delta is part of a larger geologic region called the Salton Trough.^[2] Historically, the interaction of the river's flow and the ocean's tide created a dynamic environment, supporting freshwater, brackish, and saltwater species. Within the delta region, the river split into multiple braided channels and formed a complex estuary and terrestrial ecosystems. The use of water upstream and the accompanying reduction of freshwater flow has resulted in the loss of most of the wetlands of the area, as well as drastic changes to the aquatic ecosystems - an ecosystem collapse.