Bay of Moskitia

{{Short description|Bay on the east coast of the Moskitian Shore}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Bay of Moskitia

| native_name =

| other_name = Mosquito Gulf

| image = A map of Mosquitia and the territory of Poyais with the Adjacent Countries,.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Map of 1822 showing the Bay of Mosquitia

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| location = Central America

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| coordinates = {{coord|11.271277 |-82.220163|region:ZZ_type:waterbody|display =inline}}

| type = Bay

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| part_of = Caribbean Sea

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| rivers = Wangki, Wawa, Awaltara, Bluefields, Saint John, Colorado, Parismina, Matina, Estrella, Sixaola, San San, Changuinola, Calovebora, Belén, Cocles, Chagres

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| pushpin_map = Caribbean

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The Bay of Moskitia (Spanish: Bahía de Mosquítia) is a large coastal inlet of the southwestern Caribbean Sea, located along the eastern Central American coast, or between the east and southeast coasts of the Moskitian Shore.{{Cite web |title=An improved system of geography. Designed for schools, academies and seminaries. By Francis McNally c.1. |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.087378921&seq=54 |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=HathiTrust |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Cornell's grammar-school geography : forming a part of a systematic series of school geographies, embracing an extended course and adapted to pupils of ... |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044097021562?urlappend=%3Bseq=68 |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=HathiTrust | hdl=2027/hvd.32044097021562?urlappend=%3Bseq=68 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Names |first=United States Board on Geographic |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JTT0AAAAMAAJ&dq=Mosquito+Gulf&pg=PA9 |title=Decisions Rendered |date=1952 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Edinburgh.) |first=Thomas EWING (of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zJYN933VRLoC&dq=Mosquito+Gulf&pg=PA286 |title=A System of Geography ... with an Account of the Solar System, Etc |date=1870 |language=en}}

The bay stretches from Punta Cacique, near Portobelo in Panama, southeastward to Cape Gracias a Dios. According to the 1832 Diccionario Geografico Universal, its entrance spans approximately 120 leagues (circa 570 km) with an inland reach of 48 leagues (around 230 km).{{Cite web |title=Diccionario geográfico universal dedicado a la Reina Nuestra Señora : redactado de los más recientes y acreditados diccionarios de Europa, particularmente ... Vol 6 M-OSA. |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=ucm.5309025904&seq=431&q1=Mosquitos |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=HathiTrust |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Congress |first1=Library of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AsOvxtuqDrgC&dq=Mosquito+Gulf&pg=PA443 |title=Library of Congress Subject Headings |last2=Division |first2=Library of Congress Subject Cataloging |last3=Policy |first3=Library of Congress Office for Subject Cataloging |date=2013 |publisher=Library of Congress |language=en}}

The coast is generally low and highly indented, featuring several sub-bay and lagoons including Sandy Bay, Pearl Lagoon, Bluefields Bay, the Chiriqui Lagoon, etc.

The Bay of Moskitia forests are the largest block of lowland forest on the Caribbean slope between Bocas del Toro and the San Blas Islands. The area is home to the entire population of the Geminis' dart frog and was identified as a Key Biodiversity Area in 2003.{{Cite web |title=Golfo de los Mosquitos Forests |url=https://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/site/factsheet/19277 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=www.keybiodiversityareas.org}} It is threatened by development for cattle and subsistence agriculture, as well as the discovery of a nearby copper deposit.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-11-17 |title=Minera Panamá operations pose severe threat to people, wildlife, and planetary health, group of international and local organizations say |url=https://www.amphibians.org/news/minera-panama-operations-pose-severe-threat/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Amphibian Survival Alliance |language=en-US}}