| Sipacate-Naranjo National Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
  | |
| Location | Escuintla, Guatemala |
| Coordinates | 13°55′12″N 91°05′11″W / 13.92000°N 91.08639°W |
| Length | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Width | 1 km (0.62 mi) |
| Area | 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1 m (3.3 ft) |
| Established | Acuerdo Gubernativo 06-09-69 |
| Visitors | allowed |
| Operator | CONAP |
Sipacate-Naranjo National Park is located along the Pacific coast of Escuintla in Guatemala ( 13°55′12″N 91°05′11″W / 13.919955°N 91.086473°W). The park includes mangrove forests, lagoons and sandy beaches and covers an area of 20 km long and 1 km wide, stretching between the coastal towns of Sipacate and El Naranjo. [1] [2] [3]
Mangrove species found in the park are white mangrove ( Laguncularia racemosa), black mangrove ( Avicennia nitida, Avicennia germinans) and several Rhizophora species, including the red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle). Transitional tree species include the Mexican palmetto ( Sabal mexicana) and the guiana chestnut ( Pachira aquatica). [2]
The park's beaches are breeding areas where several endangered turtle species lay their eggs, including the olive ridley ( Lepidochelys olivacea), green turtle ( Chelonia mydas), leatherback turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea), and hawksbill turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata). Other reptiles found in the park are iguanas, and freshwater turtles. [2]
Over 90 bird species -both migratory and resident- have been reported, including a large nesting heron population ( Ardeidae), cormorants ( Phalacrocoracidae), pelicans ( Pelecanidae), ibises ( Threskiornithidae), plovers, dotterels, lapwings ( Charadriidae) and gull species ( Laridae). [2] [3] Bird species of special concern found in the park but which may be under threat in Guatemala, are: Pied-billed Grebe ( Podilymbus podiceps), brown pelican ( Pelecanus occidentalis), Great White Egret ( Ardea alba), Snowy Egret ( Egretta thula), Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Tricolored Heron ( Egretta tricolor), Green Heron ( Butorides virescens), Yellow-crowned Night Heron ( Nyctanassa violacea), Boat-billed Heron ( Cochlearius cochlearius), Roseate Spoonbill ( Platalea ajaja), Wood Stork ( Mycteria americana), Black-necked Stilt ( Himantopus mexicanus), and Least Tern ( Sterna antillarum). [3]
References
- ^ CONAP. "Listado de Áreas Protegidas (enero, 2011)" (in Spanish). conap.gob.gt. Archived from the original (xls) on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
- ^ a b c d CONAP. "Parque Nacional Sipacate-Naranjo - Plan Maestro 2002-2006" (PDF) (in Spanish). Guatemala: conap.gob.gt. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ a b c Eisermann, Knut (2006). Evaluation of waterbird populations and their conservation in Guatemala (pdf). Guatemala: Sociedad Guatemalteca de Ornitología. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
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