Petites Montagnes Tortue Biological Reserve | |
---|---|
IUCN category Ib (
wilderness area) | |
Location | French Guiana, France |
Nearest city | Régina |
Coordinates | 4°18′36″N 52°12′55″W / 4.3099°N 52.2154°W |
Area | 23.64 km2 (9.13 sq mi) [1] |
Established | 30 September 2016 [2] |
Governing body | National Forests Office |
The Petites Montagnes Tortue Biological Reserve ( French: Réserve biologique intégrale des Petites Montagnes Tortue) is a wilderness area in French Guiana, France. Petites Montagnes Tortue is located about six kilometres from Régina. [3] It is a mountain range rich in quartz and quartzites with a summit of 287 metres (942 ft). The mountains are home to a diverse flora and fauna with about 20 species which are rare or endemic. [4]
The Petites Montagnes Tortue is a small mountain range rich in quartz and quartzites. The irregular hills are covered with forests with hibiscus, eperua and amaranth species. [3] The forests are a refuge for flora and fauna dating from the Pleistocene, and are characterised by a large biodiversity and endemism. [4] The geomorphology with steep slopes result in rare habitats which are home to localised species. [3]
About 20 species have been identified which are rare or endemic, [4] and include astrocaryum minus, eschweilera squamata, heliconia dasyantha, and octomeria sarthouae. [3] The dyeing poison dart frog is present in the mountains in great abundance. [3]
On 30 September 2016, Petites Montagnes Tortue Biological Reserve was protected as a wilderness area. [2] A foot path will be constructed to make the area accessible to the public. [5]