Seven decades ago, in March 1940, the author
John Steinbeck and his friend, marine biologist
Ed Ricketts, sailed down the coast of California
and Mexico to the Sea of Cortez.
"The abundance of life here gives one an exuberance,"
they wrote, "a feeling of fullness and richness."
Their stated purpose was to document the creatures
that inhabit shallow waters and tide pools
on the margins of the Sea of Cortez.
But it became much more.
In these mysterious, phosphorescent waters
they sought an understanding of mankind's
relationship to the natural world, and a wellspring
of hope for a world headed toward war.
Looking beyond the events of the day, the
two friends foresaw our rising impact on the
oceans, and the devastating impact that over
fishing would have on this rich sea.
And yet, in their journey, they encountered
a periodic cooling of the eastern Pacific
Ocean known as La Ni–a that can still set
off an explosion of life.
Can the story of their journey inspire new
efforts to preserve the Sea of Cortez?
