Rio Negro–Rio San Sun mangroves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rio Negro-Rio San Sun mangroves |
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Ecoregion territory (in purple)
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Neotropic |
| Biome | Mangroves |
| Geography | |
| Area | 518 km2 (200 sq mi) |
| Countries | Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama |
| Coordinates | 10°30′N 83°30′W / 10.5°N 83.5°W |
The Rio Negro-Rio San Sun mangroves are special coastal forests found along the Caribbean Sea in Costa Rica. They stretch from a small part near Nicaragua in the west all the way to the border with Panama in the east. These mangroves are just one part of a rich mix of habitats, including swamps, rainforests, coastal lagoons, and sandy beaches. The area often has "blackwater rivers," which are slow-moving channels in wooded swamps. Their water looks dark because of decayed plant matter. Even though hurricanes, like Hurricane Joan in 1988, can damage these mangroves, they are amazing at growing back!
Contents
Where are the Rio Negro-Rio San Sun Mangroves?
Mangroves are not super common on this coast. This is because a lot of fresh water flows in from rivers further inland. The biggest area of mangroves is in the north. You can find them where the San Juan River and the Colorado River of Costa Rica meet the sea.
This northern mangrove area continues along the Tortuguero Lagoon. It reaches all the way to the mouth of the Reventazón River. You can also find more mangroves west of the city of Limón, especially around the Bay of Moin. Just inland from these coastal areas, the land changes. It becomes the Isthmian-Atlantic moist forests ecoregion, where the salty ocean water doesn't reach.
What is the Climate Like?
The climate in this ecoregion is called a Tropical monsoon climate. This means the temperatures stay pretty warm all year round. The average temperature is always above 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit).
Even though it's a tropical area, there is a noticeable dry season. The driest month gets less than 60 mm (about 2.4 inches) of rain. This climate is somewhere between a tropical rainforest and a tropical savannah. The dry month usually happens around or right after the winter in the Northern Hemisphere. This ecoregion gets a lot of rain, sometimes up to 6,000 mm (almost 20 feet) in a year! The slightly drier time of year is from January to April.
Plants and Animals of the Mangroves
The main types of trees you'll see in these mangroves are:
- Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)
- Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans)
- White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa)
- Button mangrove (Conocarpus erectus)
- Another mangrove-related tree called Rhizophora harrisonii
A special plant found here is the yollila (Raphia taedigera). This is a type of palm tree that grows in freshwater.
This part of Costa Rica is home to a huge variety of animals. One study in the mangrove area found 120 different kinds of mammals. They also counted 300 bird species and 100 types of reptiles and amphibians.
Some of the mammals living here include:
- Pacas (Agouti paca)
- Black mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata)
- Geoffrey's spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi)
- White-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus)
- Brown-throated three-toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus)
- Silky anteaters (Cyclopes didactylus)
- Nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcintus)
The beaches along this coast are very important for nesting green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Other reptiles you might see include:
- The basilisk lizard (Basiliscus basiliscus)
- Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)
- Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Green iguanas (genus Iguana)
Protected Areas
Several areas in this ecoregion are officially protected. This helps keep the plants and animals safe. These protected places include:
- Indio Maíz Biological Reserve
- Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge
- Dr. Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge
- Tortuguero National Park
- Cariari National Wetlands
See also
In Spanish: Manglares de Río Negro-Río San Sol para niños
