Final answer:
Desmosomes are the type of junction most abundant in tissues like skin that need to resist mechanical stress, as they form strong, durable connections between cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The junction that is most abundant in tissues such as skin, which must resist significant mechanical stress, is the desmosome. Desmosomes are a type of anchoring junction that are particularly important in holding cells together in tissues that undergo strong mechanical stress, such as the skin and muscle cells. They are described as intercellular 'rivets' that create tight bonds between cells, and they are connected to intermediate filaments in the cell, which provides additional tissue strength. Desmosomes feature the adhesion molecule cadherin that projects through the cell membrane and links with cadherins of adjacent cells. This provides a very strong and durable connection, ensuring integrity and cohesion in mechanically stressed tissues. In comparison, gap junctions allow for chemical communication and tight junctions create watertight seals between cells, but neither is primarily responsible for providing the mechanical strength required by the skin and similar tissues.