Scorpion Reef () is an
atoll
An atoll () is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical parts of the oceans and seas where corals can develop. Most ...
containing a small group of islets in the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...
, about off the northern coast of the state of
Yucatán
Yucatán, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, constitute the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It comprises 106 separate municipalities, and its capital city is Mérida.
...
,
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
.
Designated a national park, the reef is part of the
Campeche Bank archipelago
An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands. An archipelago may be in an ocean, a sea, or a smaller body of water. Example archipelagos include the Aegean Islands (the o ...
and is the largest reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico.
It contains five main vegetated islands:
Isla Pérez, Isla Desertora, Isla Pájaros, Isla Chica, and Isla Desterrada.
Isla Pérez is the only inhabited island and includes a lighthouse.
The reef, including its islets and surrounding waters, has been recognised as an
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird populations.
IBA was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife Int ...
by
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding i ...
because it supports a population of
magnificent frigatebird
The magnificent frigatebird (''Fregata magnificens''), frigate petrel or man o' war is a seabird of the frigatebird family Fregatidae. With a length of and wingspan of , it is the largest species of frigatebird. It occurs over tropical and subtr ...
s.
[ ]
History
The British postal steamer ''Tweed'' was wrecked on the reef en route from
Havana
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.[Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entit ...](_bl ...<br></span></div> to <div class=)
in 1847, with the loss of 72 lives and a cargo of mercury.
See also
*
List of reefs
This is a list of notable reefs.
Reefs
See also
* Fringing reef
* Recreational dive sites
* Recreational diving
* Southeast Asian coral reefs
*'' The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs''
References
{{corals
*
* ...
References
External links
Website of Park(dead link
archive
Coral reefs
Biosphere reserves of Mexico
Protected areas of Yucatán
Protected areas of Campeche
Ramsar sites in Mexico
Islands of Yucatán
Islands of Campeche
Reefs of Mexico
Islands claimed under the Guano Islands Act
Important Bird Areas of Mexico
Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean
Seabird colonies
Uninhabited islands of Mexico
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