The mythology of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula includes a protective Earth Mother figure, "Ixchel," who brings fertility and healing to the region. In the shadow of Ixchel, we witness an ancient birthing ritual happening yearly on Mexican beaches: mother green sea turtles haul themselves onto the sands, and bury their clutches of eggs. Because the green sea turtles are on the endangered species list, we also watch as human "midwives" collect the turtles' eggs in order to protect them from poachers, predators and the damaging forces of progress. After those turtle eggs hatch in a place of protection, we lastly watch as those new hatchlings return to the beach and take to the sea... the cycle beginning anew. Between those three chapters - beginning, middle, end-- we also explore the "protection, fertility and healing" found in other aspects of the intertidal zone - particularly the lush biodiversities of the sargassum seaweed and red mangrove forests. Throughout, other beach-life stories abound on this Mexican coast, one of Mother Nature's most fruitful places.

pt. 1. Green Sea Turtles: Yucatan Peninsula: Living Beach Series -- pt. 2. The Sargasso Sea: Yucatan Peninsula: Living Beach Series -- pt. 3. Saving the Turtle: Yucatan Peninsula: Living Beach Series -- pt. 4. Red Mangrove Ecosystem: Yucatan Peninsula: Living Beach Series -- pt. 5. Releasing Baby Turtles: Yucatan Peninsula: Living Beach Series.