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The City Forest….A Protected Natural Area
This is an area very appreciated by lovers of flora, fauna and green spaces. It is located in the central part of the city, very close to the aquarium and is the most important “lung” of the city. It covers an area of 4 acres and in this space you can find a salt water lagoon, a cactus forest, and many animals and birds. It also has BBQ pits with tables and benches, children’s toys, public bathrooms, a skating track and a kiosk. You can stroll around and enjoy things or take a little multicolored train. It is visited a lot by the locals, especially on holidays and weekends.
One has the sensation of being in contact with nature since there are so many different kinds of trees in the City Forest. The sunsets are magnificent.
Technical Information:
Type of Ecosystem:
1: cactus and Tulare system
2: deciduous forest that adjoins a saltwater lagoon
Flora:
1: Types of vegetation with a strong tendency for sub-water predominate such as tules, which are from the water plant community constituted by “monocotyledonous” that can grow up to a yard in height, with narrow or no leaves and rooted in very shallow saltwater. At the edge of the body of water are woody plants, mostly legumes, with small leaves and spines. This is the “cactus” forest.
In the park proper you will find almost every tree and plant that is native to the area, the most recognizable being the eucalyptus (not native), coconut trees, citrus and bougainvilleas.
Fauna:
1: In the lagoon area and around the swampy exterior, you will find many migratory birds, many of which are hunted (doves and ducks, mostly) as well as native birds. There are 25 species of birds represented from 16 families and 24 genres, as well as 6 species of mammal such as rabbit and hare (one of which is a species in danger of extinction). Other protected species are the grey heron, the black iguana, turtles and boas. Other birds, raccoons, squirrels, lynx, river turtles, ducks and many more animals are to be found in the City Forest.
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