The Northeast Ecological Corridor along the coast near El Yunque is a primary nesting ground for the endangered leatherback sea turtle and that includes the waters off the coastline of Puerto Rico,

Critical habitat may be essential to a species' conservation, and those features may require special management considerations.

La Selva Beach Leatherback turtle tracks.

Why this beach? It is the most important turtle nesting site in the Caribbean. This is due to several unique factors. The wave action helps these giant beasts get out of the water every 4 years or so to lay their eggs. There are no lights nor other disturbances to cause the baby hatchlings to go the wrong way and go inland ( where they die) instead of finding their way to the ocean. The turtles need this beach.

Above is the overbuilt town of Fajardo next to the newly designated reserve and below is the town of Luquillo with La Selva Beach and turtle nesting site in the foreground.

La Selva, the most important Leatherback turtle nesting site in the Caribbean. Luquillo town in the background. This is the westernmost end of the new reserve.

We owe future generations our best effort to leave them a healthy viable planet. Or as one commenter beautifully put it: "We are patriots when we act not on our own behalf, but on behalf of future generations yet unborn."

You can walk to this beach, from the town of Luquillo ( but it is absolutely not safe to walk here at night). Take a morning walk with a few other people, down this stretch of deserted beach. . When conditions are rough, you should not swim.

The town of Luquillo has several beaches that are calmer and safer for swimming. The Luquillo Balneario is always calm.

Seven Seas Beach in Fajardo is a terrific beach to swim in in all conditions.