Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago

Location of Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago in Cuba

Sabana-Camagüey (Spanish: Archipiélago de Sabana-Camagüey ) is an archipelago that lines Cuba's north-central Atlantic coast. It is located off the northern coast of the provinces of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey, and is bounded to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, specifically by the Nicholas Channel (Sabana segment) and Old Bahama Channel (Camagüey segment).

The archipelago is developed on a general north-east to south-west direction, and stretches for 475 km (295 mi) from the Hicacos Peninsula and Varadero to the Bay of Nuevitas.^[1] The entire system covers more than 75,000 km² (29,000 sq mi)^[2] and is composed of approximately 2,517 cays and isles.^[1] The western islands are grouped in the Jardines del Rey archipelago, and contains Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Romano among others.

Conservation

The coastal and marine ecosystem represented by the archipelago is undergoing conservation projects supported by the Global Environment Facility and Environment Canada.^[2] Mangroves and coastal forests effectively create a buffer zone between the agricultural coast and the sensitive marine environment.^[3] The Sabana-Camagüey ecosystem encompasses the Bay of Buena Vista Biosphere Reserve, the Caguanes National Park, as well as wetlands of northern Ciego de Ávila Province. A total of 35 protected sites are located here.^[3]

List of cays

Sabana section Cayo Piedras Cayo Cruz del Padre Cayo Blanco Cayo Cinco Leguas Cayo Ingles Cayo Falcones Cayo Megano Cayo Blanquizal Cayo Sotaviento Cayo Verde Cayo Hicacal Cayo La Vela Cayos de Pajonal Cayo Fragoso

Camagüey section Cayo Frances Cayo Santa Maria Cayo Caiman Grande Jardines del Rey Cayo Guillermo Cayo Coco Cayo Judas Cayo Romano Cayo Paredon Grande Cayo Megano Grande Cayo Eusebio Cayo Cruz Cayo Guajaba Cayo Sabinal

See also

• Geography of Cuba
• Islands of Cuba

References

1. Mapping Interactivo (March 2005). "Mangroves variability in the Sabana-Camaguay Archipellago". Retrieved 2007-10-16.
2. Environment Cuba. "Sabana-Camaguey Project" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-07-07. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
3. Radio Habana. "El ecosistema Sabana Camaguey" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2007-10-13.

Coordinates: 23°00′N 80°00′W / 23.000°N 80.000°W