Mangrove Sanctuary at Dawn | Kingston Images

Dawn settles over the mangrove-lined shores of Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, as seen from the bow of a zodiac. These critical coastal ecosystems serve as carbon sinks and nurseries for countless marine species that begin their lives among the protective roots. The interplay of water, forest, and sky creates a serene moment in one of Central America's most biodiverse marine environments, where researchers study the intricate connections between terrestrial and aquatic life at this dynamic boundary between land and sea.