The Zapata Swamp (Spanish: Ciénaga de Zapata, Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsjenaɣa ðe saˈpata]) is a wetland area found on the Zapata Peninsula in the southern Matanzas Province of Cuba, within the municipality of Ciénaga de Zapata. It is situated less than 150 kilometers (93 miles) southeast of Havana.
Species and preservation
The Zapata Swamp is home to more than 900 native plant species, 175 bird species, 31 reptile species, and over 1,000 invertebrate species. Some of the most well-known birds are the Zapata wren, Zapata rail, and Zapata sparrow, which are found only in Cuba. The swamp is also the only home of the bee hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world. Each year, 65 bird species travel through the Zapata Swamp during their migration from North America to South America. The Cuban crocodile, which lives only in the Zapata Swamp, is being reintroduced to Lanier Swamp on the Isle of Youth. The American crocodile also lives in the Zapata Swamp, and the two crocodile species sometimes mix, creating hybrids. One such hybrid was found on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.
The Zapata Swamp has several protected areas, including the Zapata Swamp Natural Reserve and Las Salinas Wildlife Sanctuary. These areas are part of the larger Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve, which covers more than 6,000 square kilometers and is the largest protected area in Cuba and the Caribbean. The swamp is also the best-preserved wetland in the Antilles and was named a "Wetland of International Importance" by the Ramsar Convention in 1971. In mid-2001, an additional 4,520 square kilometers of the swamp were added to the Ramsar Site.
Geography
The Zapata Swamp is located between 22°01’ and 22°40’ N latitude and between 80°33’ and 82°09’ W longitude. The total area of the swamp is more than one million acres (4,000 km²). In terms of land shape and elevation, the highest point above sea level is about 10 meters. In areas where the land is below sea level, the depth varies: 2 meters in the saltmarsh region and between 1 and 600 meters in the coastal zone near the sea. During the warmer months of May to October, the average temperature is 30 °C (86 °F). During the cooler months of November to April, the average temperature is 20 °C (68 °F).
Gallery
- American flamingos in Zapata
- A crocodile farm in Zapata
- A yellow warbler in Zapata
- A Cuban brown curlytail in Zapata
- A northern mockingbird in Zapata
- An eastern giant toad