Ciénaga de Zapata

Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve is the largest and most significant wetland ecosystem in the Caribbean, located in Matanzas Province on Cuba's southern coast. Covering approximately 628,000 hectares, the reserve encompasses the vast Zapata Swamp, a mosaic of mangroves, freshwater marshes, lagoons, rivers, seasonally flooded savanna, and semi-deciduous forests. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2000 and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, the Ciénaga de Zapata supports one of the richest concentrations of endemic species in Cuba and provides critical habitat for numerous globally threatened waterbirds, reptiles, and fish.