The Baja peninsula was originally believed by the first Spanish sea explorers to be an island, and acquired the name California, after the mythical paradise. Following Hernán Cortés's conquest of Mexico, the search for the fabled Strait of Anián connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific helped motivate him to send several expeditions to the west coast of New Spain in the 1530s and early 1540s. In 1539, explorer Francisco de Ulloa proved that Baja California was a peninsula rather than an island, and named the water separating it from the mainland the "Vermillion Sea" (sometimes referred to as the "Red Sea"). The Spaniards gave the name Las Californias to the peninsula and lands to the north, including both Baja California and Alta California, the region that became parts of the present-day U.S. states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. Over time the name "Sea of Cortez" replaced Vermillion Sea, and today the term "Gulf of California" is used by some.
the baja peninsula was originally believed by the first spanish sea explorers to be an island and acquired the name california after the mythical paradise following hernán cortés's conquest of mexico the search for the fabled strait of anián connecting the atlantic to the pacific helped motivate him to send several expeditions to the west coast of new spain in the 1530s and early 1540s in 1539 explorer francisco de ulloa proved that baja california was a peninsula rather than an island and named the water separating it from the mainland the "vermillion sea" (sometimes referred to as the "red sea") the spaniards gave the name las californias to the peninsula and lands to the north including both baja california and alta california the region that became parts of the present-day us states of california nevada utah arizona and parts of colorado and wyoming over time the name "sea of cortez" replaced vermillion sea and today the term "gulf of california" is used by some