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Sian Ka'an
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HERITAGE RECORD · 410

Sian Ka'an

圣卡安

The official record, selection criteria and sourced cultural context.

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World Heritage record

In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means 'Origin of the Sky'. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system.

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Wikidata reference

QIDQ559789

Area528000 ha

Administrative areaQ80245

WikipediaSian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve

Chinese Wikipedia錫安卡恩

Imported locally from Wikidata; it does not replace the UNESCO record or editorial copy.

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Selection criteria

This property was inscribed under the following World Heritage Convention criteria.

(vii)Superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
(x)The most important natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity.

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Cultural archive

Record lead

UNESCO record lead

Brief Synthesis Thousands of years ago the original Maya inhabitants appreciated the exceptional natural beauty of this stretch of coastline, naming it Sian Ka´an, or “Origin of the Sky.

Source-led archive lead · 86%Source
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