Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún

American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) congregating in shallow areas of the lagoon in Ría Celestún, one of their main resting and feeding habitats in the Yucatan Peninsula. Boats approach the flamingos to a certain extent in order not to scare them away.
A colony of Magnificent frigatebirds Fregata magnificens on the red mangrove forests (Rhizophora mangle).
Inside the Red Mangrove Forests. The lagoon itself acquires the red colors given by the mangrove tannins.
An island of high rise forests (Peten) amidst the mangrove, due to the presence of a freshwater spring typically called "ojo de agua".
The light show in the ruins of Uxmal, where Mayan legends were narrated praying for rain.

Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún

  • Country: 
    Mexico
  • Site number: 
    1333
  • Area: 
    81,482.3 ha
  • Designation date: 
    02-02-2004
  • Coordinates: 
    20°45'N 90°22'W
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún. 02/02/04; Yucatán; 81,482 ha; 20°45'N 090°22'W. Reserva de la Biosfera. A diverse complex of wetlands including mangroves, seagrass beds, small estuaries, coastal dunes, hypersaline coastal lagoons, karstic caves and other coastal wetland types. Fresh water from subterranean aquifers have an outlet in the site. Eight specific vegetation zones are present, providing habitat for several notable or endangered species of plants. The vegetative diversity gives rise to an abundant fauna, representing a high percentage of species known in the Yucatan, including numerous threatened or endangered species. The site is of particular importance as a nesting and feeding site for turtles and migratory birds. Human activities include fishing, tourism, and salt extraction. Special research and educational efforts are devoted to the protection and conservation of biodiversity in the area. Ramsar site no. 1333. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Administrative region: 
Yucatán, Campeche

  • Global international designation: 
    • UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
  • National legal designation: 
    • Reserva de la Biosfera
  • Last publication date: 
    02-02-2004

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)

Site map

Additional reports and documents

  • Taxonomic lists of plant and animal species occurring in the site