Laguna de Manialtepec
Encyclopedia
The Laguna de Manialtepec is a coastal lagoon
about 18 km west of Puerto Escondido
in the State of Oaxaca
, Mexico
. The name comes from Náhuatl
“manine” (lizard) and “tepetl” (place), meaning (place of lizards). Access to the lagoon by car is via Federal Highway 200 or by boat from Puerto Escondido. The lagoon is 15 km long with patches of leafy jungle and mangrove
s that reach 15 meters of height in some places . The lagoon opens to the sea during the rainy season at a place known as Puerto Suelo or El Carnero.
While much of the foliage and wildlife is visible from the docks in San José Manialtepec and the restaurants on them, most people explore the lagoon by boat or kayak to get up close to the wildlife on the banks. Multiple species of birds nest here. Multiple species of birds nest here, including wild ducks, storks and “tijerillas”. Fish species to be found include mojarra, sea bass, catfish and striped mullet.
About four times a year, more or less, the lagoon becomes phosphorescent due to a type a microorganism that lives in the lagoon. The organism’s luminescence is activated by the movement of the water. At night, streaks of light can be seen due to the movement of fish (and humans) in the water.
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
about 18 km west of Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is a small port and tourist center in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec Distrito 22 in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Prior to the 1930s, no real town existed. The bay had been used as a port intermittently to ship coffee, but there was no permanent settlement due to the lack...
in the State of Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The name comes from Náhuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
“manine” (lizard) and “tepetl” (place), meaning (place of lizards). Access to the lagoon by car is via Federal Highway 200 or by boat from Puerto Escondido. The lagoon is 15 km long with patches of leafy jungle and mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s that reach 15 meters of height in some places . The lagoon opens to the sea during the rainy season at a place known as Puerto Suelo or El Carnero.
While much of the foliage and wildlife is visible from the docks in San José Manialtepec and the restaurants on them, most people explore the lagoon by boat or kayak to get up close to the wildlife on the banks. Multiple species of birds nest here. Multiple species of birds nest here, including wild ducks, storks and “tijerillas”. Fish species to be found include mojarra, sea bass, catfish and striped mullet.
About four times a year, more or less, the lagoon becomes phosphorescent due to a type a microorganism that lives in the lagoon. The organism’s luminescence is activated by the movement of the water. At night, streaks of light can be seen due to the movement of fish (and humans) in the water.