Jardines de la Reina National Park, Protected marine area in southern Cuba.
Jardines de la Reina is a marine protected area off southern Cuba containing around 600 cays and extensive coral reef systems. The area spans a large expanse of water with minimal human settlement.
Christopher Columbus anchored here during his second voyage in 1494 and named the islands after Spain's Queen Isabella. The area was later designated as a marine protected zone.
The park shows how marine conservation works in the Caribbean while allowing traditional Cuban fishing to continue under environmental rules. Visitors observe local fishermen working alongside protection efforts.
Access to the park is through Júcaro port, and visitors stay on floating accommodations since there are no land-based facilities. The best conditions occur during drier months when sea conditions are more stable.
The area contains some of the Caribbean's oldest black coral formations, with specimens thousands of years old. These rare corals grow extremely slowly, making them especially valuable for scientific research.
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