Cayo Arenas Complex

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Location on Continental Shelf
Outer-Shelf Bank
Width
1.00km
Length
3.30km
Maximum Depth
30.00m

From: Mérida, 2000; Tunnell, 2007
Arenas is considered a reef complex due to the multiple emergent platforms and islands that exist on it. It is composed by a NE Reef Wall at 91.39°W and 22.12°N, a SE Reef Wall at 91.39°W and 22.11°N, and a W Reef Wall at 91.39°W and 22.12°N, where a large vegetated island named Cayo Arenas exists. There are three smaller, unvegetated and unnamed coral rubble cays, two on the NE Reef Wall and one on the SE Reef Wall. The complex is located 169 km from the Yucatán Peninsula, Northwest of the city of Progreso.

Cayo Arenas has a horseshoe shape with the opening toward the Northwest, and is composed of coral, sand and rocks. It hosts a 22 m manned lighthouse with a 24 km geographic reach and a 99 km light reach. On the North end of the small island, a feature known as Roca Serdán stands half a meter over sea level.

A 2001 study revealed the presence of 258 masked booby seabird nests on Cayo Arenas.

Note: The coordinates listed below are an approximation of the geographical center of the complex. Width and length figures include the NE,W and SE reef walls figures.

References

  • Mérida. 2000. Capital Americana de la cultura. El Arrecife de los Alacranes y Cayo Arenas. http://thematrix.sureste.com/cityview/merida1/tours/ecoturismo/alacrane… (Accessed 24 Feb., 2004).

  • Tunnell, J.W., Jr. 2007. Reef Distribution (chapter 2). In Tunnell, J.W. Jr., Chavez, E.O. and Withers, K. (eds) Coral Reefs of the Southern Gulf of Mexico. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX, 216 p.

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