The Miskito Cays ( Spanish : Cayos Miskitos) are an archipelago of small cays and reefs with an area of 27 km located off Mosquito Coast in the Caribbean exclusive economic zones of Honduras and Nicaragua . They are part of the Gracias a Dios Department in Honduras and the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region in Nicaragua. The Miskito Cays are composed of 76 formations that include estuaries , coral reefs , cays , seagrass beds, and islets , of which 12 of the formations are covered with vegetation and consequently form islands which are lined with white sand beaches.
4-459: In Nicaragua, the Miskito Cay (Cayo Miskito), also known as Cayo Mayor, is the largest and most important cay located in the center of the archipelago measuring 37 km. Other main islands are Maras Cay, Nasa Cay, and Morrison Denis Cay. The Miskito Cays Biological Reserve is one of 78 protected areas of Nicaragua , it was declared a protected area in 1991. The cays, along with a stretch of
8-708: The adjacent mainland coast, have been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International . 14°23′N 82°46′W / 14.383°N 82.767°W / 14.383; -82.767 This Nicaragua location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a protected area in Nicaragua is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Protected areas of Nicaragua The protected areas of Nicaragua are areas that have natural beauty or significance and are protected by Nicaragua . Nicaragua has 78 protected areas that cover 22,422 km , about 17.3% of
12-581: The nations landmass . The National System of Protected Areas (SINAP) is administered by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA). The Peninsula of Cosigüina Wildlife Refuge was established in 1958 and was the first protected area in Nicaragua. Two more protected areas were established in 1979 and there was a total of 25 by 1990. Prior to 1979, the Central Bank of Nicaragua
16-484: Was assigned responsibility for the two national parks and one natural reserve created during the Somoza regime. In March 1999, a new law established regulations for private reserves in Nicaragua. Private wildlife reserves are defined as private areas dedicated to conservation by their landowners and recognized by MARENA, on the basis of certain criteria and the potential for the conservations of biodiversity . This
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