Bay of Buena Vista facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Designations
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| Official name: Buenavista | |
| Designated: | 18 November 2002 |
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| Reference #: | 1233 |
The Bay of Buena Vista (which means Beautiful View Bay in Spanish) is a large bay on Cuba's northern Atlantic coast. It is found in the northern parts of the provinces of Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara, and Ciego de Ávila. The bay sits between the main island of Cuba and a chain of smaller islands (called an archipelago) that line its northern edge.
About the Bay
Many small islands, called cays, form the northern border of the Bay of Buena Vista. These include Cayo Francés, Cayo Fragoso, and Cayo Santa Maria. They are part of the Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago. Beyond these islands, the bay connects to the Nicholas Channel in the northwest and the Old Bahamas Channel in the northeast.
The southern part of the bay touches the towns of Caibarién, Yaguajay, Chambas, and Morón. It also includes the Bay of Dogs (Bahia Perros). To the east, the Bay of Buena Vista is next to Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo. These islands are part of the Jardines del Rey group, and the Bay of Jiguey.
Protecting Nature
The Bay of Buena Vista is a very special place for nature. It is recognized as a Biosphere reserve by UNESCO. This means it's an area where people try to balance protecting nature with using resources in a smart way. It's also a Ramsar Convention site, which means it's an important wetland for birds and other wildlife around the world.
A large part of the bay, about 313.5 square kilometers (121 square miles), is a strictly protected area. This means nature is very carefully looked after here. Caguanes National Park is located on the southern shore of the bay.
Other special nature areas are found on islands like Cayo Francés, Cayo Santa María, Cayo Guillermo, and Cayo Coco. There's also a special area on Cayo Las Loras just for protecting animals. Around these main protected zones, there are "buffer zones" in places like Jobo Rosado and Boquerones on the mainland. These areas help protect the main reserves.
The islands in the bay are home to more than 20 endemic species. This means these plants and animals are found only in this specific area and nowhere else in the world!
See also
In Spanish: Buenavista (Cuba) para niños
