Zapata Swamp

Cienaga de Zapata (Spanish for swamp of Zapata ) is a Cuban municipality on the Zapata Peninsula (Spanish: Península de Zapata ) in the province of Matanzas. There is also the same swamp. Zapata Swamp dominated by the Cuban mainland in the Gulf of Batabanó on the south coast to the Caribbean Sea. The peninsula is the geographically largest and least populated municipality of Cuba and belongs to the province of Matanzas. In 2012, the population was 9,136 with a population density of 2.2 inhabitants per km ².

Because of its unique natural resources of the region was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Geography

It is the wettest area on the Caribbean islands with an area of ​​some 3,000 square kilometers, an east-west extent of 175 km, between Punta Gorda and Jagua, as well as a maximum north- south distance of 58 km. The administrative headquarters is located in Playa Larga.

The peninsula is home to the endemic diamond crocodiles and numerous migratory birds. Here also comes before the Gundlachtaube, which is considered one of the endangered species of pigeons of the Caribbean. Therefore, the peninsula was designated as a National Park. The vast majority is to explore only accompanied by a guide.

Economy and infrastructure

At the only road on which the peninsula from north to south of Jagüey Grande must be ridden from the tourist center of Boca de Guamá lies with the Laguna del Tesoro. The road leads to the situated on the south coast of Playa Larga at the innermost point of the Bay of Pigs and on to Playa Girón, where the museum is located on the Bay of Pigs invasion.