Arrecife Alacranes National Park and Biosphere Reserve (Mexico)

Arrecife Alacranes National Park and Biosphere Reserve (Mexico)

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Arrecife Alacranes (Scorpion Reef) is a reef surrounding a small group of islands off the northern coast of Yucatán, Mexico. Designated as a National Park and Biosphere Reserve, it is the largest reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico and the only known coral reef in Yucatán.

Arrecife Alacranes National Park

Arrecife Alacranes (Scorpion Reef) National Park consists of a reef and the surrounding small group of islands in the Gulf of Mexico, off the northern coast of Yucatán, Mexico. The area was designated a national park of Mexico in 1994.

Alacranes is a group of small Coraline islands and atolls. The reef complex is about 27 km (17 mi) long and 21 km (13 mi) wide. It is located 104 km (65 mi) north of Progreso, Yucatán, the closest point on the mainland.

Designated as a National Park and Biosphere Reserve, the reef is part of the Campeche Bank archipelago and is the largest reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico. It is also the only known coral reef in the Yucatán Peninsula.

For thousands of years, various species of coral have grown together to build an extensive reef. In addition to corals, the reef is composed of remains from algae, foraminifera, and mollusks.

Arrecife Alacranes Biosphere Reserve

Arrecife Alacranes Biosphere Reserve contains five main vegetated islands:

  • Isla Pérez
  • Isla Desertora
  • Isla Pájaros
  • Isla Chica
  • Isla Exterrada

Isla Pérez is the only inhabited island and includes a lighthouse. The area was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2006.

Most of the reef has been built by calcifying overlapping colonies of various species of corals for thousands of years. The dynamic rise of the islands and their constant change due to storms and tides contribute to vegetation distribution and cover dynamics. The vegetation of the islands consists of species of mangroves and coastal dunes.

The Arrecife Alacranes Biosphere Reserve has high biodiversity and great potential for fishing. It is an important area of preservation for many endangered, endemic species helpful to humans. It is also considered an important cultural heritage for its stranded boats, buildings, and lighthouse, which are historical monuments.

The site is of great importance for the coastal communities as a source of food and marine products for local, national and international trade, as well as for recreation and domestic and foreign tourism, with a high potential for generating jobs for ecotourism activities.