Laguna Barra de Navidad. 02/02/08; Jalisco; 794 ha; 19°11'N 104°40'W. An estuarine system along Mexico's western central littoral with permanent communication with the ocean. The vegetation found in the margins of the lagoon is composed mainly of the mangrove species Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia germinans and Conocarpus erectus. Sixty aquatic bird species have been identified in this site, representing 50% of the species identified for the coast of Jalisco. These include Ardea herodias, Egretta rufescens, Mycteria americana, Larus heermanni, Sterna elegans, Buteogallus anthracinus and Nomonyx dominicus, all but the last of which are under legal protection. The Snow goose Chen caerulescens has been observed in the lagoon, a new record for the coast of Jalisco The lagoon is essential for the reproduction of migratory and resident waterfowl, and is also of great importance for fish species in different stages of their life cycles. Ramsar site no. 1817. Most recent RIS information: 2008.