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| Introduction |
The Zapata Peninsula,
which is located south of the province of Matanzas,
is a combination of mountain and sea that provides
extensive shelter to Cuba’s flora and
fauna. It is a veritable paradise for bird-watchers,
ecotourists in general and diving enthusiasts.
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Attractions
in this area, land of dense semi-deciduous
shrubs, extensive wetlands and the winding
canals that make up the largest marshlands
in the Caribbean isles, include the crocodile
farm in La Boca, which breeds over five
thousand reptiles; the Tesoro Lagoon, with
a depth of 10 m and almost 16 km2, considered
to be the largest natural pool of water
in the Cuban archipelago; the network of
caves and lakes along the coastline; Larga
and Girón beaches and even further,
the treasures – a spectacular world
of corals and a plethora of fish –
buried deep along its shelf.
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Montemar Great
Natural Park, located around Bay of Pigs,
is the largest and most important wetland
in the island Caribbean. A wide variety
of flora and fauna are found at the Park,
including autocthonous and migratory birds,
mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and
invertebrates. |
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flora of the Park includes semi-deciduous
and mangrove forests, marshy grassland (everglades)
and coastal thickets. There are over one
hundred animal species. Outstanding among
birds are the ferminia (Ferminia cerverai);
Santo Tomás coot (Cyanolimnas cerverai);
a kind of sparrow called here Cabrerito
de la Ciénaga (Torrearnis inexpectata);
the fairy hummingbird, a long-tailed sparrow
hawk, parrots, including Aratinga euops,
and partridges. |
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La Salina Wildlife Refuge
is one of Cuba’s main wintering
areas for migratory birds from North America.
Sixteen species of reptiles, none of which
is poisonous, inhabit the area; outstanding
specimens are the Cuban and American crocodiles.
Mammals are also represented in Montemar:
several hutia species, wild boar and deer.
Ponds and lagoons are home to two aquatic
vertebrates now threatened with extinction,
the manatee (Trichechus manatus) and the
Cuban alligator gar (Atractosteus tristoechus),
an ancient fish that can only be found
in this region.
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| Zapata
Peninsula Map |
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Hotels
in the Zapata Peninsula |
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