Hydro-geomorphological differentiation of coastal systems of the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

The coastline of both sides of Mexico exceeds 11 000 km, consisting of various landforms that are regionally different in origin, length, and nature, called by the common term of coastal lagoons by different authors and government institutions, and currently called wetlands by international convention (RAMSAR). This study thus differentiates lagoons, estuaries, marshes and bays in the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. In the Gulf of Mexico predominated the coastal lagoons (47.8%) and the last were the bays (1.6%); and in the Pacific the bays and costal lagoons had the same number of this geoforms (14%), approximately.Original Abstract: La lfnea de costa de ambas margenes del territorio continental mexicano rebasan los 11 000 km de longitud, caracterizadas por la presencia de diversos ambientes geomorfologicos que exhiben diferencias regionales tanto en su origen, longitud y naturaleza, denominadas con el termino comun de lagunas costeras entre diferentes autores e instituciones gubernamentales y actualmente llamados humedales por convenio internacional (RAMSAR). Por lo anterior, este trabajo diferencia las lagunas, estuarios, marismas y bahias en el Pacifico, Golfo de Mexico y Caribe. Destacan en el Golfo los sistemas fluvio lagunares costeros con un 47.8% y a las bahi'a les coresponde el 1.6%; en el Pacifico, tanto las lagunas como las bahias, representan el 14% cada una.