| Laguna Joyuda | |
|---|---|
 Laguna Joyuda | |
  Laguna Joyuda | |
| Location | Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 18°07′50″N 67°10′38″W / 18.13056°N 67.17722°W |
| Type | natural reservoir |
| Max. length | 2.4 km (1.5 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.0 km (0.62 mi) |
| Surface area | 1.37 km2 (0.53 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) |
Laguna Joyuda, or Albufera de Joyuda,[1] is a natural reservoir located in the municipality of Cabo Rojo in Puerto Rico. The only lagoon in the western coast of the main island, it is recognized as a dual system for recreation and fishing. However, it is an area of significant value for its flora, endemic and exotic marine fauna, varied reef systems, and exchange of fauna at the mouth of the Río Guanajibo to the north. The neighboring Isla de Ratones and the Punta Ostiones atoll are a refuge for migratory birds and fish. It also serves as a habitat for abundant mollusks and crustaceans in the coast.
- ^ Hill, Robert Thomas (1898). Cuba and Puerto Rico, with the Other Islands of the West Indies. New York: Century Company. p. 148.