Jardines de la Reina

Jardines de la Reina (English: Gardens of the Queen) is an archipelago in the southern part of Cuba, in the provinces of Camagüey and Ciego de Ávila.

Jardines de la Reina
IUCN category II (national park)
Location of Jardines de la Reina in Cuba
Location Cuba
Nearest citySanta Cruz del Sur
Coordinates20°49′N 78°55′W
Area2,170 km2 (840 sq mi)[1]

It was named by Christopher Columbus to honour the Queen of Spain, Isabella I of Castile. Since 1996 a marine reserve was established covering a large swath of the archipelago.[2] In 2010, Jardines de la Reina was established as a national park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Jardines de la Reina).[3] With an area of 2,170 km2 (840 sq mi), it is one of Cuba's largest protected areas.[1]

Geography

It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between the Gulf of Ana Maria (north-west), Gulf of Guacanayabo (south) and Caballones Channel (west). It extends on a general north-west to south-east direction, paralleling the Cuban coast for 150 km (93 mi) from Cayo Breton to Cayos Mordazo. Cuba's second largest archipelago (smaller only than Jardines del Rey), it is formed by more than 600 cays and islands. Other cays in the archipelago include Caguamas, Cayos Cinco Balas, Cayo Anclitas, Cayo Algodon Grande, Cayos Pingues and Cayo Granada. Part of the archipelago is also known as Laberinto de las Doce Leguas (The Labyrinth of the Twelve Leagues)

Table of Islands
Nr. 1)IslandOther cays and featuresArea
(km²)		Population
(Census 2012 official)
1Cayo Algodon Grande3.700
2Cayo AnclitasPunta Piloto4.500
3Cayo Breton6.700
4Cayo Caballones16.500
5Cayo Cabeza Del Este6.360
6Cayo Caguamas7.860
7Cayo Grande26.800
8Cayos Ana MariaCayo Tio Joaquin, Arenas, Balandras, Ana Maria, Caoba, Campito, Guasimas, Flamenco, Dos Hermanos, Guinea, Obispo, Laguna, Encantado, Joroba,14.760
9Cayos Bahia de CasildaGuayo, Tobaco, Puga, Machos1.000
10Cayos Cinco Balas13.500
11Cayos GranadaCorua, Sardines, Caoba, Guasa, Rancho Viejo, Inglesitos, Pilon16.630
12Cayos Media LunaCulebra, Loma, Rabihorcado7.100
13Cayos MordazoRonquitto, Almacigo, Lena, Muchacho, Largo, Punta Infierno, Yana, Playa Blanca, Carabela, Pitajaya, Las Bolas,9.300
14Cayos PinguesCottoro, Macho, Rancho Alegre, Vivero, Anton, Chocolate,20.460
15More IslandsAlcatracito, Paloma, Cuervo, Algodoncito, Manuel Gomez, Santa Maria, Zaza de Afuera, Piedra Chica, Cachiboca, Indio, Carabinerro, Laberinto, Boca Seca, Campo Santo20.000
 Jardines de la ReinaCayo Blanco, Tio Joaquin175.000

1) The Islands area and population data retrieved from the 2012 census.

Fishing

The archipelago is a popular destination for diving and sport fly-fishing. Only catch and release fly-fishing and a limited, well-regulated lobster fishery is allowed n the park, although many other fisheries occur surrounding the park and close to cays out of the park limits. It used to be one of Fidel Castro's favorite fishing spots. Species of fish found here include Cubera snapper, Bonefish, Yellowfin grouper, Black grouper, Atlantic goliath grouper as well as Strombus gigas (the large Caribbean conch) and Whale shark.[1] Besides being an extraordinary site for fly fishing, one its main attractions for diving is the abundance of reef sharks.

Diving

Jardines de la Reina (The Gardens of the Queen) is one of the most popular scuba destinations of Cuba. The underwater landscapes include canyons, pinnacles and caves. Healthy mangroves, sponges and black corals cover the reef. The Jardines de la Reina also host numerous silky and Caribbean reef sharks. In the mangroves labyrinth it’s possible to find crocodiles and snorkel with them.

See also

References
  1. National Council for Cultural Heritage. "Jardines de la Reina". Archived from the original on 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
  2. "Jardines de la Reina". 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  3. "Legislacion Jardines de la Reina" (PDF). www.medioambiente.cu (in Spanish). Agencia de Medio Ambiente. 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2018.


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