Celebrating Life in the Coral Reefs

If you travel far into space and look back to the Earth, the only living structures you will distinguish are the coral reefs: wondrous colors such as greens, blues, yellows, and reds painted on the globe. These are the rainforests of the sea, the largest living structures on the planet due to the vast amount of species they harbor.

This is the time to celebrate the diversity that rises within the coral reefs. 2008 has been declared the International Year of the Reef and it is promoted by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). Mexico and the U.S. are leading the ICRI Joint Secretariat in order to increase awareness and understanding about the conservation and sustainable use of these ecosystems. As part of the IYOR activities, the Mexico Tourism Board will host a special lecture in Washington, D.C. in which two Mexican specialists will talk about the actions taken by the Mexican government in order to reduce the threat of human activity on the development of coral reefs.

Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor but they support an estimated twenty-five percent of all marine life. The Mesoamerican Coral Reef, also known as the Great Maya Reef, is one of the Riviera Maya’s most magnificent natural attractions. It is the largest complex in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. Along with other reefs, it helps to keep balance in the environment by minimizing wave impacts from natural forces. Also, their beauty creates a powerful attraction for tourism, making the reef an important source of revenue and a stimulus for job creation.

The Great Maya Reef is a weave of coast-hugging, fringing reefs, banks, islets and immense coral atolls. Its uniqueness is breathtaking. When witnessing the abundance of marine life and the blue dominant color that turns into a rainbow of colors when you approach the reef, you will be overwhelmed. Much more than a single reef barrier, it is a myriad of shallow patch reefs, coral gardens and precipitous drop-offs.