Veracruz Reef System National Park () is a national marine park and protected area located in

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 ...

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 ...

. The park was established in 1994 and covers a total area of approximately , divided into two polygons: the Veracruz Polygon, which comprises seven

reef A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral, or similar relatively stable material lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water. Many reefs result from natural, abiotic component, abiotic (non-living) processes such as deposition (geol ...

s and two islands, and the Antón Lizardo Polygon, with 12 reefs and four islands.

Reef groups

The reef system is divided into four reef groups: *Outer reefs: continued development on windward and leeward slopes. *Intermediate reefs: have a long, very gentle leeward slope. *Inner reefs: have a large amount of sediment accumulated on the leeward slope. *Fringing reefs: they develop on the coast, presenting a development that does not exceed 12 m depth on the windward side. The ecological importance of the Reef Park is such that the system is also designated as one of Mexico's Ramsar Sites - Wetland Sites of International Importance, with four of the eight biodiversity criteria established by the Ramsar Convention. Among the established criteria, number one considers the wetland as a rare or unique example, because the reef system has been subjected to great anthropogenic pressure during the last 500 years. Despite the damage done to the reef, there are studies that indicate that it has a higher recovery rate compared to other reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. Currently, the deterioration of the environmental condition has increased due to drainage discharges from the metropolitan area, as well as hydrocarbon spills due to the movement of vessels in the port area. (Ramsar Wetlands Information Sheet, 2004- CONANP).

Gallery

File:Ocean From Enmedio Island (232798967).jpeg, View from Enmedio Island File:Pelecanus occidentalis, Veracruz, México (154140527).jpg, Brown pelican File:Isla Santiaguillo, Veracruz, Mexico Faro2.jpg, Lighthouse in Santiaguillo Island File:Hypoplectrus castroaguirrei (10.3897-zookeys.882.38449) Figure 14 (cropped).jpg, Mero blanco veracruzano

References

National parks of Mexico Ramsar sites in Mexico Protected areas of Veracruz Marine parks of Mexico Important Bird Areas of Mexico {{Veracruz-geo-stub