The Kaw-Roura Marshland Nature Reserve (

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

: ''Réserve naturelle nationale des marais de Kaw-Roura'') is a nature reserve in French Guiana, France. The reserve is a wetland, and can only be accessed by boat from Kaw.

Overview

The Kaw-Roura Marshland Nature Reserve not only consists of marshland, but also contains mangrove forests, savannas, and tropical rainforests. The reserve measures 94,700 hectares, and is the largest wetland of France. It stretches from Roura to Régina, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Amazonian rainforest. The marshland is fed by the Kaw River, the

Approuague The Approuague river (or Apuruaque in Tupi) is a major river in French Guiana. It is long. It runs north from the Tumuk Humak Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, almost parallel with the Oyapock, with its mouth by the Pointe Béhague cape. The App ...

and the Angélique Creek. The Kaw-Roura Marshland has been designated as a

Ramsar site A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O) *** Permanent 8 ha (P) *** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts) **

and a nature reserve since 1998. The reserve is sometimes nicknamed "the Everglades of Guiana". The village of Kaw is located inside the reserve.

Flora and fauna

The Kaw-Roura Marshland Nature Reserve is home to more than half of the protected species of French Guiana, and includes the

black caiman The black caiman (''Melanosuchus niger'') is a species of large crocodilian and is the largest species of the family Alligatoridae. It is a carnivorous reptile that lives along slow-moving rivers, lakes, seasonally flooded savannas of the Amazon ...

, manatees, the giant otter, the

jaguar The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus '' Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the th ...

, and the matamata turtle. The reserve attracts many birds, and is home to 535 bird species. It is an important breeding and wintering location for many waterbirds. Birds found in the reserve include the agami heron, the great egret, the cock-of-the-rock, and the crested eagle.

References

External links

Official website
(in French) * {{authority control Environment of French Guiana Nature reserves in France Protected areas of French Guiana Ramsar sites in France Régina Roura Tourist attractions in French Guiana