Sian Ka’an
Sian Ka'an is a famous protected park in Mexico. It is located in the popular tourist area of the Riviera Maya, created by a private non-profit company to preserve the unique biosphere of the Yucatan Peninsula. Since 1986 it has become a national park.
Geographical features
Sian Ka'an covers 5,280 square kilometers. The park stretches along the Caribbean coast for 120 kilometers. There are tropics, wetlands and coastal lagoons. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest in the world after the Great Barrier, also belongs to the protected area. The park contains hundreds of species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. It has become home to many animals and insects; it is not surprising that Sian Kaan has been protected by UNESCO since 1987.
The diversity of the landscape, plants and animals is determined by the climatic characteristics of the zone. It's always warm here. The average annual temperature is +27⁰С. The rainy season with heavy rainfall (from June to September) alternates with a dry period (from October to May).
History of Geology
The name of the park Sian Kaan, translated from the ancient Mayan language, is interpreted as “the place where the sky is born.” According to another version, it is a “gift from heaven.” In any case, poetic and completely justified. The Yucatan Peninsula is unique: it is a vast limestone platform plunging into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. There are no rivers on the peninsula, but it does not experience a shortage of fresh water; there is enough of it in underground reservoirs.
Many thousands of years ago, the Sian Kaan area was covered with dense vegetation, but then it sank under water for a long time. This is evidenced by countless underground rivers and reservoirs, as well as periodically discovered remains of ancient marine inhabitants. Then the water receded, giving way to the modern landscape. Scientists believe that the geology of the peninsula was also influenced by a meteorite fall that occurred more than 60 million years ago. A ring with a diameter of 5 kilometers formed in its crater, consisting of many underground channels and caves filled with fresh water. The Indians called them cenotes.
Flora and fauna of the park
The protected area of Sian Ka'an Park is home to more than 300 species of birds and more than a hundred species of mammals. In winter, birds from many northern countries flock here. Pelicans, ibises, herons, storks, cormorants, and frigates are found here. Among the large animals you can see monkeys, crocodiles, pumas, ocelots, and jaguars. The coral reef provides shelter to many species of marine life. These are crabs, sea turtles, moray eels, barracudas, sharks.
The flora is no less diverse. In the reserve you can see palm trees, reeds, and tall savannah grasses. Evergreen mangrove trees grow along the banks. Sea grapes have also mastered the salty soil. Its tasty fruits are similar to muscat grapes.
Tourism
Numerous tours are organized for tourists in the Sian Ka'an Nature Reserve. These include safari, boat trips along the mangroves, and sport fishing. Diving enthusiasts can admire the colorful world of the reef barrier. The depth of the sea here does not exceed five meters, diving is very popular.
The territories of the national park were once inhabited by the Mayan civilization. Today, numerous excavations are being carried out in these places. Some of them can be visited by tourists. Visits are restricted to the areas of Muyil, Huaymil and Culebra Island, where scientific research is being conducted. You can get to Sian Ka'an by car or taxi. From Cancun the reserve is only 2 hours away. The city of Tulum is even closer and can be reached by highway in less than half an hour. Entrance to the park is limited; the easiest way to get here is for organized tourists.
