Valley of the Giants
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Visitors to the Valley of the Giants should be aware that the Cardуn cacti and all of Baja California wild life are protected under Mexican law which requires permits to remove any cactus from its soil, so taking cacti from their natural habitat and replanting them in your garden is prohibited and fines for cactus poaching can be as high as $25,000. Gardeners are therefore advised to leave native desert cacti alone and to be careful that vendors they wish to buy cacti from are legitimate nursery cactus providers. One clue is that wild cacti are often more scarred and irregular than cultivated cacti due to predation. An interesting historical highlight involving the cardуn cacti took place in 1992, when Mexico sent a 45-foot tall 150 year-old living cardуn cactus from the Valley of the Giants on a transatlantic voyage to Seville in Spain to honor the 500th anniversary of the “discovery” of the Americas in 1492 by Cristobal Colуn (also known as Christopher Columbus). Oddly enough, the journey of this impressive ambassador cactus was far from easy and its trip to Spain was initially plagued by such problems as: its lifting cranes breaking cables and getting stuck in the sand, and its transport truck breaking down and waiting days on the highway for repairs. Nevertheless, despite the obstacles, the cactus eventually made it to Seville, roots and all, where it was installed in a place of honor, although reportedly its information plaque incorrectly stated its age as 1,500 years old! Those who have enjoyed seeing the California redwoods will most certainly find the Valley of the Giants an interesting place to visit. Excellent photographic opportunities of the spectacular scenery and towering cacti abound for a modest entrance fee of only $10 per vehicle. While a conventional car and a pair of hiking shoes make several interesting parts of the attraction accessible, a four-wheel drive vehicle has access to a rough circular drive where more many of the giant cacti can be viewed and photographed against the impressive backdrop of the Baja Mountains. About the Author
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