Cabo Corrientes, has uplifted shores dominated by rocky cliffs and rocky shores
with intrusions of sand and silt, forming a high volcanic coastline (Galvis and
Mojica 1993; INGEOMINAS 1998; INVEMAR 2008). The continental shelf is
narrow and the 200 m isobaths is located about 15 km from the coastline (Cantera
and Contreras 1993). Despite the high rainfall in the area, the proximity of the
coast to the Serranía de Baudó does not permit the formation of rivers. The few
rivers that exist have a relatively low discharge.
The southern area, from Cabo Corrientes to the border with Ecuador, has
lowline coasts with tidal plains. It is mostly covered by mangroves, with cliffs in
Málaga, Buenaventura and Tumaco Bay. This area has several rivers with high
flow. The main ones are the Baudó and San Juan (INGEOMINAS 1998;
INVEMAR 2008). Sediments deposited by these rivers have formed a wide
continental shelf, extending about 55 km to Gorgona Island (Cantera and Contreras 1993) (Fig. 5.3).
Insular Formations of Pacific Colombia
The two main islands or systems of islands in the Colombian Pacific, Gorgona and
Malpelo, have been designated as protected areas (Fig. 5.3). The first is located
35 km from the continent in the Department of Cauca, between 2°55
0 N–78°09
0 W
and 3°00
0 N–78°14
0 W. It is the largest island territory on the continental shelf of the
Pacific, with a total area of 14.1 km
2 and surrounding an area of 610 km
2 (Fig. 5.3).
Sixty-one thousand ha of the waters surrounding Gorgona and Gorgonilla islands
were designated as a National Natural Park (PNN) in 1983 (UAESPNN 1998;
Giraldo et al. 2008). Although the coral reefs of the PNN Gorgona have a relatively
small area, they are one of the most developed of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP)
(Zapata and Vargas-Ángel 2003).
Malpelo is an oceanic island 490 km west of the Department of Valle del Cauca
between 3°51
0 N and 81°35
0 W, with a terrestrial area of 3.5 km
2 . It was declared a
Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (SFF) in 1995. Because of its especially sensitive
marine nature, the marine protected area was expanded from 651 to 8,574 km
2 in
2002. In 2006, UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage Site (UAESPNN 1998;
Díaz et al. 2000; UNESCO 2006). The island is separated from the mainland by a
depth of more than 3,000 m (Graham 1975). It is the only one that emerges from
the Malpelo Ridge, a submarine volcanic cordillera 241.4 km long and 80.5 km
wide (Chase 1968). The SFF is surrounded by clear oceanic waters that allow the
presence of corals to a depth of 30 m (Graham 1975).
Pacific Ecoregions
The Pacific region is subdivided into nine ecoregions based on environmental,
social, cultural and political factors: Pacific North (PAN), Baudó (BAU),
Buenaventura (BUE), Naya (NAY), Sanquianga (SAQ), Tumaco (TUM), Gorgona
5 Echinoderms of Colombia
153
with intrusions of sand and silt, forming a high volcanic coastline (Galvis and
Mojica 1993; INGEOMINAS 1998; INVEMAR 2008). The continental shelf is
narrow and the 200 m isobaths is located about 15 km from the coastline (Cantera
and Contreras 1993). Despite the high rainfall in the area, the proximity of the
coast to the Serranía de Baudó does not permit the formation of rivers. The few
rivers that exist have a relatively low discharge.
The southern area, from Cabo Corrientes to the border with Ecuador, has
lowline coasts with tidal plains. It is mostly covered by mangroves, with cliffs in
Málaga, Buenaventura and Tumaco Bay. This area has several rivers with high
flow. The main ones are the Baudó and San Juan (INGEOMINAS 1998;
INVEMAR 2008). Sediments deposited by these rivers have formed a wide
continental shelf, extending about 55 km to Gorgona Island (Cantera and Contreras 1993) (Fig. 5.3).
Insular Formations of Pacific Colombia
The two main islands or systems of islands in the Colombian Pacific, Gorgona and
Malpelo, have been designated as protected areas (Fig. 5.3). The first is located
35 km from the continent in the Department of Cauca, between 2°55
0 N–78°09
0 W
and 3°00
0 N–78°14
0 W. It is the largest island territory on the continental shelf of the
Pacific, with a total area of 14.1 km
2 and surrounding an area of 610 km
2 (Fig. 5.3).
Sixty-one thousand ha of the waters surrounding Gorgona and Gorgonilla islands
were designated as a National Natural Park (PNN) in 1983 (UAESPNN 1998;
Giraldo et al. 2008). Although the coral reefs of the PNN Gorgona have a relatively
small area, they are one of the most developed of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP)
(Zapata and Vargas-Ángel 2003).
Malpelo is an oceanic island 490 km west of the Department of Valle del Cauca
between 3°51
0 N and 81°35
0 W, with a terrestrial area of 3.5 km
2 . It was declared a
Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (SFF) in 1995. Because of its especially sensitive
marine nature, the marine protected area was expanded from 651 to 8,574 km
2 in
2002. In 2006, UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage Site (UAESPNN 1998;
Díaz et al. 2000; UNESCO 2006). The island is separated from the mainland by a
depth of more than 3,000 m (Graham 1975). It is the only one that emerges from
the Malpelo Ridge, a submarine volcanic cordillera 241.4 km long and 80.5 km
wide (Chase 1968). The SFF is surrounded by clear oceanic waters that allow the
presence of corals to a depth of 30 m (Graham 1975).
Pacific Ecoregions
The Pacific region is subdivided into nine ecoregions based on environmental,
social, cultural and political factors: Pacific North (PAN), Baudó (BAU),
Buenaventura (BUE), Naya (NAY), Sanquianga (SAQ), Tumaco (TUM), Gorgona
5 Echinoderms of Colombia
153