Laguna de Términos Protected Natural Area

Palm trees, mangrove forests, rainforests and long-grass savannahs surround this 2,725 square mile body of water, making this one of Mexico’s largest and most important lake ecosystems. The diverse ecosystems of this protected area are home to more than 1,400 species of animals; of these, 30 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are endemic to the neotropical region. This place is also a temporary home to migratory birds, where they come to rest their wings after many days of flight. It isn’t unusual to spot the jabiru stork, the peregrine falcon (the fastest creature on the planet) and the white pelican from Canada. Its flooded land is covered with nutritious silt and marine grass that oxygenates its waters and feeds its aquatic species. The turtles, crabs, shrimp, crocodiles and fish also depend on this. Laguna de Términos is an essential link in the delicate chain of life that spans the entire continent.