Cuatro Cienegas: Mexico’s Desert Aquarium
Photographs and text by George Grall
Smack in the middle of the blazing Chihuahuan Desert is Cuatro Cienegas or "four marshes," a unique region of sparking waters set aside by the Mexican government as a biological reserve. More than 60 species make the region their home, including cactuses, snails, scorpions, fish and reptiles. Of the 16 fish species in the small valley, eight are found only here. Spawned by water and wind over the ages, the valley’s gypsum dune fields are the only ones in Mexico and are a draw for those seeking resources for wallboard and fertilizer production. The crystalline waters are also threatened by increased recreational use. Conservationists hope that Mexico will be able to protect one of North America’s rarest environments.
NGM 1995/10