Cabo Pulmo National Park

Cabo Pulmo National Park on the Gulf of California protects Bahía Pulmo and the oldest of only three coral reefs on North America’s west coast, estimated to be about 20,000 years old. Covering roughly 27 square miles, it contains 11 coral species and the northernmost coral reef in the eastern Pacific. The park grew from local efforts to save an area damaged by overfishing and was federally protected in 1995. Its no-fishing policy was later linked to a 462 percent rise in fish abundance by 2010, making Cabo Pulmo an international conservation model while also shifting the local economy toward tourism and reef-based recreation.

Mexico