LOCATION San Felipe is part of the Municipality of Mexicali, Baja California, and it is 240 kilometers (149 Miles) south of the City of Mexicali. It neighbors North and East with the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortés and the State of Sonora; Southwest with the municipality of Ensenada. ALTITUDE The Bay of San Felipe is three meters (9.8 feet) above sea level; it North Latitude is 31, 02'03" and West Longitude is 114, 50' 00". CLIMATE This region has a sub classification of climate called very dry, warm and prone to extremes ( BW(h') hw(x')(e') ), as per Koppen's classification, modified by E. García for the Mexican Republic (1973). Yearly average rain is below 70 mm., with Winter and Summer rains and little o no rain the rest of the year. The Mexican Agricultural Bureau has a reported rain for this area of 40.7 mm. (CIDESON, 1944). The heaviest recorded rains for San Felipe in the last 14 years, were in 1983, when 622.4 mm. fell. TEMPERATURE The average yearly temperature is between 22 (71.6 F) and 24 (75 F)degrees Celsius, with a maximum of up to 48 degrees Celsius (118 F) in the shade, and minimum of 0 degrees Celsius (32 F) in December and January. However, the maximum monthly average during the Summer is 33.4 degrees Celsius (92.12 F)and the minimum monthly average during Winter is 16.1 degrees Celsius (60.98 F). (CIDESON, 1994). OROGRAPHY The Sierra of San Felipe that runs parallel to the Sierra of San Pedro Mártir, with a maximum elevation of approximately 3078 meters (10,098 feet) above sea level, is located some 45 kilometers (28 miles) from town. North there is Sierra Las Pintas, and right in town, there is El Machorro, that symbolizes San Felipe. HYDROGRAPHY Northwest of town, right in front of Rio Colorado's mouth Montague and San Jorge islands are located. These islands are considered as ecological reserves and refuge for marine birds and wild animals. Some 32 kilometers (19.88 miles) into the ocean, and right in front of town, you can find Consag Island, also a refuge for marine mammals and birds. LAND ACCESS Land access to San Felipe is through Federal Highways # 5 from Mexicali and # 3 from Ensenada, both in good condition. From San Felipe starts a road that goes to Puertecitos, some 90 kilometers (55.9 miles) south. This highway is not in very good conditions due to lack of maintenance, but it can be negotiated by almost any vehicle. AIRPORTS AND LANDING STRIPS San Felipe has its own airport operated by the State Government and it is an international facility. It is located 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of town and it is accessed by a paved road, and it has: 1,620 meters (1,771 yards) long and 35 meters (38 yards) wide landing strip. Control tower Fuel for prop and jet engines Platform for small crafts Emergency Services Terminal and waiting room with capacity for 100 persons Immigration and customs area Parking facilities Taxi service PORTS San Felipe;s port is for cargo and mostly services the local shrimping fleet and recreational crafts. The dock is 127 meters (417 feet) long and 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) deep. POPULATION The estimated population in 1995, was of 19, 804 persons Floating population was calculated in 5,000 persons, considering the 2,300 spaces in tourist camps, trailer parks and hotels. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES The mainstay of San Felipe's economy are tourism and commerce. There are also fishing cooperatives that produce mainly shrimp and a large variety of fish. There is also a cannery. TRANSPORTATION There are first and second class passenger services that operate from a small terminal in the middle of town. The buses arrive from Mexicali and Ensenada on a regular basis, all year round. COMMUNICATIONS There are mail, telegraph and telephone services with long distance telephone booths strategically located all over town. There is also cellular service. OTHER SERVICES There are four insurance companies, two banks, three money exchange places, three gas stations, general health services and government offices. San Felipe has an office of the State Tourism Bureau which assists and helps both national and foreign visitors. It also promotes tourist activities and national holidays that are celebrated in town. There is also a Tourist Safety Bureau that helps tourists in any kind of problems. San Felipe Baja California, is a warm friendly town with an old fishing tradition that has developed a very important tourist industry in the last 30 years or so. The natural beauty of this place, its' beautiful sandy beaches with warm waters during summer and a mild winter, attract people from northern harsher climates. Also, the constant northwest wind and clear skies, make it a perfect location for sailing and other sea sports.