|
| The natural wonders of the Bay of Banderas |
| January 26, 2003. |  The
Bay of Banderas has become famous both nationally and internationally for its
tourist resorts in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo Corrientes in the State of Jalisco,
and more recently, Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, Punta Mita, Sayulita, San Blas and
all the other delightful little towns on the north coast in the State of Nayarit.
The Bay is nestled in the middle of Mexico's western coastline, on the Pacific.
It is a multifaceted region of our country, not so much for the diversity of services
it offers to the tourist, but rather for the enormous variety of natural environments
that compose it, giving rise to a surprising amount of life forms.
This
explosion of wildlife results from the conjunction of the creating forces of the
ocean and the land, a product we call the "coastal effect", which basically
assumes that where the two environments, the two worlds, meet, the diversity of
animals and plants is greater than that which is found in either of these worlds
separately.  Year
after year, the waters that bathe the coastline of the Bay get ready to receive
a magnificent visitor: the humpback whale. This cetacean thrives in the Bay from
November to March, performing all the activities related to courtship, mating
and giving birth. Furthermore, it evokes the admiration of tourists with its spectacular
breaches as it shows off its acrobatic abilities. This whale can reach lengths
of 10 to 15 meters (30 to 45 feet) and weigh as much as 30 tons.
Moreover,
this species is famous throughout the world for its "song", for which
it has been featured on many records and television appearances. These acoustical
expressions are related to all the facets of the species' behavior. In fact, it
has been found that the songs vary according to the populations, the seasons of
the year and throughout time. That is why scientists have concluded that these
sounds are not simple calls, but rather represent a dialect in itself. Potentially,
the Bay may welcome the arrival of as many as five different species of sea turtles
among which the Pacific Ridley sea turtle is the one who visits most often between
the months of June and November. This species enjoys the admiration of all the
people in the region, who make incredible efforts in order to conserve it through
a program that protects the arrival of its specimens onto the beaches and the
incubation of their eggs in specially supervised corrals. In
the depths of its waters, the Bay shelters endless surprises that will only be
revealed to the explorer in search of adventure: the fragility of coral formations,
the imposing presence of giant manta rays, fish of blindingly resplendent colors,
challenging sport fishing species, conches and snails in an infinity of shapes,
as well as a great variety of representations of life.  The
Marieta Islands and the protected natural area of the little Los Arcos island
formations are insular regions rich in animal life and marvelous places for snorkeling
and diving. Near these little islets, one can retreat to the sound of the songs
of an infinite number of marine birds that have chosen them as ideal places for
nesting, courting and feeding.
In the exuberance of the
tropical forests that surround the Bay, it is still possible to catch a glimpse
of the sacred jaguar of the Aztecs in search of prey such as the slippery white
boar, the wily raccoon, the playful coati, the mobile fortress that is the armadillo,
the American cousin of the kangaroo: the opossum, or the magical brother of the
region's Wixaritari (Huichol for the healing singer): the white-tailed deer.  The
lakes, rivers and lagoons that make up part of the natural environment of the
Bay are still the refuge of an animal species that has shared the same territory
where it has waged fierce battles for millions of years with the extinct dinosaurs.
We are talking about the majestically impressive river crocodile of course. Population
studies done by specialists have enabled us to establish that the density of crocodiles
in the region is approximately one hundred, from small individuals no larger than
10" in length to beautiful adults over 12 feet long.
An
important portion of the biodiversity of Mexico's birds -ranked tenth in the world-
exists in the Bay of Banderas region. Its 115-km coastline includes important
wetlands that are the habitat of aquatic birds. We can observe over 100 different
species there that visit the zone during their winter migrations from the north
to the southern part of the continent. But the habitats of the 369 species of
birds with marine and land habits that can potentially be seen around the Bay
are not limited to those types of environments. They may also occur on the islands,
its sandy and rocky beaches, over the open sea, in fields, urban areas, woods
and ravines, as well as along the rivers and lagoons, both permanent and intermittent.
These all represent adequate landscapes for recreational and scientific bird-watching.
This marvelous diversity is also a product of the presence of the 10 types of
vegetation present in the region, among which the tropical forest, the pine and
oak forests, and a savannah very similar to the African one all stand out. Although
fishing in the Bay is generally for subsistence, there is one fish that besides
being a fundamental component of the municipal seal of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco,
also attracts hundreds of sport fishermen from all over the world, not for its
high protein value but rather for the challenge involved in catching it: the Sailfish.
Besides them, there are also many species of marlin, tuna, roosterfish, etc. of
course, which have all contributed to the recognition of these waters as prime
sport fishing grounds. These are but some of the examples
of the natural marvels that decorate the Bay of Banderas. We extend an open invitation
for you to discover them when you visit us. cupul@pvmirror.com Archives
by date |
Current
Weather Report
