San Ignacio Lagoon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Designations
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| Official name: Laguna San Ignacio | |
| Designated: | 2 February 2004 |
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| Reference #: | 1341 |
San Ignacio Lagoon, also known as Laguna San Ignacio, is a special place in Mexico. It is located in the state of Baja California Sur, not far from the town of San Ignacio, Mexico. This lagoon is a very important winter home for eastern Pacific gray whales. They travel here every year to have their babies and find mates.
Contents
What is the History of San Ignacio Lagoon?
San Ignacio Lagoon was first found by a whaling captain named Jared Poole. His brother-in-law, Charles Melville Scammon, visited the lagoon in 1860. He came with six whaling ships. Sadly, a lot of whaling happened here, which almost made the Pacific Gray whale disappear forever.
Today, things are different. The lagoon is now a main spot for whales to visit. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it is a very important place that is protected. Whales can now breed and have their young here without being bothered by people. The lagoon is also a United Nations Biosphere Reserve. This helps protect all the plants and animals. It is also a safe place for many migratory birds.
What are Some Facts About San Ignacio Lagoon?
The community living near the lagoon is very small, with fewer than 100 people. These residents mainly earn money from fishing and from people who come to watch the whales.
The lagoon stretches about sixteen miles into the desert. It is up to five miles wide. The lagoon has three main parts:
- The upper lagoon is the most shallow part. This is where pregnant female whales come to give birth to their calves.
- The middle lagoon is like a hallway. Mother whales travel through here with their new babies to get to the lower lagoon.
- The lower lagoon is where most of the whales stay. This is where they socialize and interact. Male and female whales meet here to find mates. Young calves get ready for their long trip north. They will travel to their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic.
Why is San Ignacio Lagoon Important to the World?
In 1988, Mexico created the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. San Ignacio Lagoon is part of this reserve. It is Latin America's largest wildlife sanctuary.
San Ignacio Lagoon is not just a safe place for gray whales. It is one of only two natural places in the world where Pacific gray whales have their babies and breed. The other place is Magdalena Bay, which is only four hours away.
The lagoon is also a very important home for other animals. It is a critical habitat for the berrendo, also known as the pronghorn antelope. This animal is endangered in Mexico. The lagoon is also a key feeding area for four types of sea turtles. These include leatherbacks, hawksbills, green turtles, and olive ridleys. All of these sea turtles are endangered.
Because of its great importance, the United Nations declared San Ignacio Lagoon a World Heritage site in 1993.
See also
In Spanish: Laguna San Ignacio para niños
