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The Maritime and Terrestrial Zone

is the two-hundred meter wide strip of land along the Atlantic and Pacific littorals, of the Republic, whatever its nature, measured horizontally beginning from the ordinary high tide and lands and rocks that the sea leaves uncovered in low tide.

For all legal effects, the maritime zone includes islands, keys and maritime cliffs, as well as all the land or natural formation standing out over the ocean level within the territorial sea of the Republic. Except for Isla del Coco, which is under direct authority and possession of the State, and other islands whose dominion or management are determined in the present law or special laws.

The Maritime and Terrestrial Zone is further defined as being composed of two sections: the Public Zone, which is the fifty-meters wide strip of land, counting from the ordinary high tide and the area left uncovered in low tide; and the Restricted Zone, constituted by the remaining one hundred-fifty meters strip of land, or the other land, in case of islands. Keys, cliffs and other small areas and natural formations that stand out from the sea correspond to the public zone.

Public zone is also the one occupied by all the mangroves of the continental and insular littorals and estuaries of the national territory, no matter its extension.