Mejía Lagoons National Sanctuary

Mejía Lagoons National Sanctuary
Santuario Nacional Lagunas de Mejía
Map showing the location of Mejía Lagoons National Sanctuary

Location within Peru

Location Mejía District, Arequipa, Peru
Coordinates 17°08′49″S 71°51′47″W / 17.147°S 71.863°WCoordinates: 17°08′49″S 71°51′47″W / 17.147°S 71.863°W[1]
Area 690.6 hectares (1,707 acres)
Established 1984

The Mejía Lagoons National Sanctuary (Santuario Nacional Lagunas de Mejía) is a protected area in Peru on the coastal Mejía District in Arequipa, in the mouth of the Tambo River. It is now a sanctuary for migratory birds. In 1981 Mejia Lagoons were drained by Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture to convert the land to ricefields, letter-writing campaign to Peruvian government in protest, made by O.P. Pearson, M.P. Harris and R.A. Hughes among others, result in declaration of birds preserve area.[2] The sanctuary was established on February 24, 1984, and is in the department of Arequipa, province of Islay, with an area of 690.6 hectares (1,707 acres).

It is a refuge for migratory birds on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. This area provides food for birds like the sanderling (Calidris alba).

On the shores of the lakes are frogs (Bufo limensis) and lizards (Microlophus tigris), and fish such as the flathead mullet (Mugil Cephalus) and silversides (Basilichthys sp.).

On the beach there are 180 types of birds as residents and migratories. These include:

Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) prefer to live in vegetated areas. The purpose of this sanctuary is to protect the fauna and flora, and to promote tourism.

References

  1. ↑ "Lagunas De Mejía National Sanctuary". protectedplanet.net.
  2. ↑ Myers J.P. (1982). "Mejia Lagoon: gone, but perhaps not forever". Wader Study Group Bulletin 35: 29.