The Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado or Islas Coronados; ; Kumeyaay: Mat hasil ewik kakap) are a group of islands located off the northwest coast of the Mexican state of Baja California. Battered by the wind and waves, the rocky islands are mostly uninhabited except for a small military detachment and a lighthouse keeper. Despite their barren appearance, they serve as a refuge for seabirds and support a sizable number of plants, including 6 endemic taxa found only on the islands. The waters around the islands support a considerable amount of diverse marine life. Used extensively and intermittently by the indigenous peoples for thousands of years, the first European explorers sighted them in 1542. Centuries later, they served as weekend getaway locations, secret gambling spots, and smuggling sites until the Mexican Navy clamped down on trespassing. The tied island city of Coronado, California, to the north, was named in honor of the islands after an 1886 naming competition. During World War II, the islands were utilized in joint training exercises between Mexico and the United States, but gained notoriety when future founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, shelled the inhabited island, earning the ire of the Mexican government. Today, the islands are a Mexican wildlife refuge; visitors may anchor, scuba, and snorkel, but setting foot on the islands is prohibited without special permission from the government. Geography The Coronado Islands are located within the central portion of the Southern California Bight, on the continental margin within Mexico's exclusive economic zone. The islands are exposed continental blocks, produced by the shear zone of the Pacific and North American plates. To the west, underwater cliffs border a deep channel over in depth. The largest and closest island, South Coronado, is located approximately off the Mexican mainland and south of the maritime border with the United States. The islands are under the jurisdiction of Mexico and Tijuana Municipality within the state of Baja California. The archipelago is composed of four main islands spread out over . Coronado Norte (North Coronado or North Island) is located at and has a surface area of . It has no bay but boats can anchor on a jetty on the eastern side. It is large enough to support numerous microhabitats for plants, and a has a climate similar to southern Point Loma. Pilón de Azúcar (Pile of Sugar or Middle Rock) is located at and covers . The