Laguna de Las Marites Natural Monument
# Laguna de Las Marites Natural Monument

The Laguna de las Marites Natural Monument (Spanish: Monumento Natural Laguna de las Marites) Also Las Marites Lagoon Natural Monument Is a protected area with natural monument status located on the southeast coast of the coastal plain of Margarita Island in Nueva Esparta state in the northwest of the South American country of Venezuela. It was declared a monument on February 27, 1974. It has an extension of 3674 ha, an altitude of 40 msnm and an average temperature of 26 °C, with hypersaline waters.

Its vegetation is composed of large numbers of black and red lagoons and mangroves. On the coast the vegetation is xerophilous. Its fauna is composed of fish species such as lebranche, horse mackerel, smooth and white shrimp; Also surround the area poultry species such as the pelican, crabs and various herons.

