Barra del Colorado Wetlands

The wetlands at Barra del Colorado, Costa Rica, are part of the Northeastern Caribbean wetland, a Ramsar site of international importance, and include the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge, the Costa Rica-Nicaragua Border Refuge, and part of Tortuguero National Park. These wetlands were declared a Ramsar site in 1996. The Ramsar site has an area of 75,310 hectares, including the following areas: Tortuguero National Park: 23,903 hectares, Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge: 40,315.1 hectares, Costa Rica-Nicaragua Border Refuge: 11,091.7 hectares. These wetlands have become a crucial nesting, resting, and wintering site for more than 60 species of migratory waterfowl. It is also a stopover site for migratory fish species such as shad and bald fish. The wetlands include mangroves, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes.