The Oceans Surrounding Isla de la Juventud, Cuba
- The Persaud Foundation
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
In this article, we will be discussing the oceans surrounding Isla de la Juventud, an island off the coast of Cuba. The name of the island roughly translates into the Isle of Youth, & Rejuvenation. Isla de la Juventud is an island off the coast of Cuba, owned by the Cuban government.
The island is approximately 213.88 nautical miles (396.10576 kilometers or 246.128708 miles) from the mainland North American Continent. It is the second largest island Cuban Island, only second to the main island. The island is approximately 2419.05 square kilometers (934 square miles or 597,760 acres).
The island is south of Havana, & is the seventh-largest island in the West Indies as a whole. The official language of the island is Spanish, & tourism is high. Ecologically, the island is covered in Pine forests. The island is mild, & not as tropical as the rest of the Caribbean. The island is incredibly well known for its gorgeous beaches, never-ending nightlife, historic prisons, biodiversity, & its reputation as a pirate hideaway.
The coastline of the island is extremely biodiverse, & filled with nature preserves & coral reefs. The coral reefs are very large, & are of the fringing kind. These coral reefs house many interesting creatures, one of the strangest being the Green Moray Eel. We covered this species on the 10th of this month, & the article can be found by typing “Green Moray Eel” into the search function of our website.
Isla de la Juventud sits comfortably in the Atlantic Ocean, nearby Cuba. It has many seagrass meadows, & gorgeous underwater landscapes that hundreds of divers flock to each other. The island is extremely popular amongst marine life enthusiasts, divers, swimmers, & snorkelers.
In this article, we will discuss the salinity, tides, temperatures, marine geography, & depth of the oceans surrounding Isla de la Juventud, the most prominent marine ecosystems of Isla de la Juventud, & the documented marine flora, as well as fauna, of Isla de la Juventud,. With that being said, let us delve into the gorgeous second largest island off the coast off the coast of Cuba.
The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Depth Of The Oceans Surrounding Isla de la Juventud
Unfortunately, the Salinity around Isla de la Juventud is unmeasured. The Salinity for the Gulf Of Mexico is usually 36 to 37.5 parts per thousand, or practical salinity units. The salinity nearby the island is likely to be close to the number. Salinity is measured in 1000 gram increments of water, & for every 1000 grams of water, a certain amount is salt. This measurement is called Parts Per Thousand, or Practical Salinity Units. There are not many brine pools close by the island, or major salt deposits.
The tidal charts for the Isle can be found on many websites, a few of which are: https://www.tideschart.com, https://www.myforecast.com, & https://tideking.com.
The oceanic temperature charts can be found on similar websites, such as: https://www.tideschart.com, & https://seatemperature.info. The yearly average temperature is approximately 27.733333333333° Celsius (81.9199999999994048° Fahrenheit). Using a wetsuit guide, the majority of people do not require a wetsuit to swim in water at this temperature, & should use a standard swim suit. Though there is not very much pollution, there are still venomous jellyfish around the island which can cause a hazard. The area is still considered safe for swimming, however swimmers should stay vigilant for jellyfish, as well as sharks. Although sharks aren’t very dangerous, swimmers should still avoid provoking them.
There is a nature reserve on the island, which includes the coastal area around it. This is the only nearby Marine Protected Area at the time of publishing. Snorkelling & Scuba diving are incredibly popular around the island, as the area has lively coral reefs. Kayaking & Surfing are also fairly popular, & are done all around the island. The most popular beaches for these purposes are as follows: Playa Larga, Playa Bibijagua, Playa del Estudiante, & Playa Punta de Piedra.
The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of Isla de la Juventud
Ecosystem Type No. 1: Fringing Coral Reefs
As mentioned in the introductory paragraph, the island has many fringing coral reefs around it. Coral reefs are considered to be on of the main hubs for all marine life, & used for practically everything. The type of coral reefs around the island are fringing instead of barrier, meaning that they are directly against the island, & do not have a section of ocean of ocean as a barrier between them & the island.
Coral reefs are mass structures of coral polyps, typically located along the ocean floor. These coral reefs act as a breeding ground, hunting ground, spawning ground, & shelter. There are various different kinds of coral reefs, the most important of which are atoll, barrier, & fringing. The coral reefs in the bay are of the fringing kind, meaning that they grow directly against the shoreline, without any kind of barrier. The coral reefs of the island are shallow, & are positively enraptured with marine life. It is unfortunately not clear what species of coral inhabit Isla de la Juventud.
Ecosystem Type No. 2: Mangrove Forests
Approximately 20 percent of all forested areas across Cuba are designated Mangrove forests. Mangrove forests are coastal forests that grow in brackish or saltwater, that create a unique ecosystem for both terrestrial & aquatic organisms. These areas are incredibly important to fish eating mammals.
The mangrove trees can be found along saltwater or brackish rivers, & along coastlines. There are approximately 4 different species of mangrove tree found on the island, those being Rhizophora mangle (Red Mangrove), Avicenia germinans (Black Mangrove), Laguncularia racemosa (White Buttonwood), & Conocarpus erectus (Buttonwood Mangrove).
Ecosystem Type No. 3: Intertidal Zones
Intertidal zones are located along the coastlines, & are exposed to air at low tide. These zones are where the ocean meets the shoreline, & contrary to popular perception, are absolutely teeming with oceanic life. From crabs to bivalves, this ecosystem has a unique variety of marine life, as well as a unique variety of features. These zones generally have species from the phyla Echinodermata, Arthropoda, & Mollusca in them. Additionally, these zones may have tide pools.
The Documented Marine Flora Of Isla de la Juventud
Unfortunately, there is very little public information about the algae or seagrasses of Isla de la Juventud. For this reason, we are going to dedicate this section to delving into the Mangrove Trees of the island.
Mangrove Tree No. 1: Rhizophora Mangle (Red Mangrove)
Rhizophora mangle is a species of mangrove, found in estuaries & mangrove forests. The tree is well known for having aerial roots, meaning that its roots are exposed to air at the trees maturity. The tree has a very low salt tolerance, & is able to withstand fairly high temperatures. This species is distributed in both brackish water & freshwater. They are not able to withstand cold temperatures very well. Individual trees are able to grow up to 80 feet under proper circumstances. The bark of the tree is either bright red or gray, & their flowers are small, yellow, & bell shaped.
Mangrove Tree No. 2: Avicenia Germinans (Black Mangrove)
Black mangrove is a tree popularly found in the topics, & is able to get up to 61 feet tall. Though they are able to reach such astounding heights, they usually do not surpass 50 feet. Unlike red mangrove, they do not have aerial roots. They are commonly planted along waterways to protect the natural landscape from boat wakes, hurricanes, & wind. Their bark is a dark green or gray colour, & their flowers have a yellow center & four white leaves.
Mangrove Tree No. 3: Laguncularia Racemosa (White Mangrove)
Laguncularia racemosa is a species of mangrove tree commonly found along the coasts of North & South America. It is named white buttonwood for the fact that it has special glands that cause its leaves to appear white. The tree is able to reach heights of 20 feet at most. Their bark colour is a pale brown, & their flowers are on long green stems, with small white petals extending off to the side.
Mangrove Tree No. 4: Conocarpus Erectus (Buttonwood Mangrove)
Buttonwood Mangrove is a species of mangrove tree commonly found along the coastline of Florida & Cuba. The tree is able to reach dimensions of 40 feet tall, & 20 feet wide. The tree is usually asymmetrical. The bark of this tree is smooth in texture, & pale grey in colour. The flowers of the tree are small & green, being at least half an inch (1.27 centimeters) in diameter.
The Documented Marine Fauna Of Isla de la Juventud
Isla de la Juventud is without a doubt one of the most biodiverse islands of Cuba. Using a platform called iNaturalist, a list of marine species that inhabit the island has been compiled. The link to this list is attached below, & is categorized by taxonomic group.
Directories / Credits
Citation No. 1: “Wetsuit thickness & temperature guide”, Written By Mark Evans, & Published On April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: April 20th, 2024.
Citation No. 2: “Beaches on Isla de la Juventud”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Cuban Travel Agency. Retrieval Date: April 21st, 2024.
Citation No. 3: “Beaches on Isla de la Juventud”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Trip Cuba. Retrieval Date: April 21st, 2024.
Citation No. 4: “Rhizophora Mangle”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Retrieval Date: April 21st, 2024.
Citation No. 5: “Rhizophora Mangle” Written by Melina Takvorian, & Published in 2022. Published by Animal Diversity Web. Retrieval Date: April 21st, 2024.
Citation No. 6: “Red Mangrove: Rhizophora Mangle”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the National Wildlife Federation. Retrieval Date: April 21st, 2024.
Citation No. 7: “Avicennia Germinans”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Retrieval Date: April 21st, 2024.
Citation No. 8: “Concocarpus Erectus: Buttonwood”, Written by Edward F. Gilman & Dennis G. Watson, & Published in 1993. Published by the Southern Group of State Foresters. Retrieval Date: April 21st, 2024.
Citation No. 9: “Laguncularia Racemosa” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Retrieval Date: April 21st, 2024.
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