Lagunas de Santa María-Topolobampo-Ohuira. 02/02/09; Sinaloa; 22,500 ha; 25°36'33"N 109°06'23"W. World Heritage site, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A system of three coastal lagoons, with a total of eight islands: six in Ohuira Bay, one in Topolobampo Bay and one in Santa María Bay. Mangroves include Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia germinans and Conocarpus erectus. The site is home to 84% of the migratory waterfowl distributed in Mexico during the winter. It is subject to flooding and storms caused by tropical cyclones that regularly occur in the area, so the system functions as a shoreline stabilizer by reducing the energy of runoff caused by rainfall. Among the potential factors that could cause degradation in water quality and landscape are the large amounts of wastewater discharges, especially agricultural runoff, to the coastal zone. Fishing is the most important use in the area. The site is located within the Area of Protection of Flora and Fauna "Islas del Golfo de California", a World Heritage natural site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Ramsar Site no. 2025. Most recent RIS information: 2011.

Sinaloa