Sian Ka'an


World Heritage Identification Number: 410

World Heritage since: 1987

Category: Natural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇲🇽 Mexico

Continent: Americas

UNESCO World Region: Latin America and the Caribbean

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Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: A Natural Treasure of the Yucatan Peninsula

The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, located on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, is a testament to the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of the region. In the Mayan language, Sian Ka'an translates to 'Origin of the Sky', a fitting name for this vast expanse that encompasses tropical forests, mangroves, marshes, and a significant marine section intersected by the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

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.

Encyclopedia Record: Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve

Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in Tulum Municipality in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It was established in 1986 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 528,000 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (vii) — Contains superlative natural phenomena or beauty
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity

Coordinates: 19.38333 , -87.79167

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Image of Sian Ka'an

© Tschips, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Country Information: Mexico

Flag of Mexico

Official Name: United Mexican States

Capital: Mexico City

Continent: Americas

Population (2024): 130,861,007

Population (2023): 129,739,759

Population (2022): 128,613,117

Land Area: 1,943,950 sq km

Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Sian Ka'an are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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