The Central Suriname Nature Reserve () is a conservation unit in Suriname.
It preserves an area of tropical rainforest. The reserve is in pristine condition.
History
The Central Suriname Nature Reserve was created in 1998 by
Conservation International and the government of
Suriname
Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is a developing country with a Human Development Index, high level of human development; i ...
from the fusion of three existing nature reserves: Ralleighvallen, Tafelberg and Eilerts de Haan gebergte. It was designated a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
in 2000 for its pristine tropical rainforest ecosystem.
The forest received material support from Microsoft co-founder Jeff Harbers.
Environment
The reserve is in the
Guianan moist forests ecoregion.
It contains of both montane and lowland primary tropical forest including sections of the Guyana Highlands.
It is known for its rapids and bird species, including the Guiana Cock of the Rock (''
Rupicola rupicola'').
[Nature Reserve of Suriname]
Visit Suriname Over 5,000 different plants have been identified, and large mammals like the
jaguar
The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large felidae, cat species and the only extant taxon, living member of the genus ''Panthera'' that is native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the biggest cat spe ...
,
giant armadillo, and eight species of primates.
A research station is located at the foot of
Voltzberg and the area is tourist attraction.
[
Some of the most outstanding features in Central Suriname Nature Reserve are several granite domes – uplifted monoliths of granite rising high above the surrounding rainforest. Barren surface of dark-colored ]granite
Granite ( ) is a coarse-grained (phanerite, phaneritic) intrusive rock, intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly coo ...
is exposed to impact of Sun thus creating unique xerophytic biotope which includes also endemic plant species. The best known granite dome is the 245 m high Voltzberg.
Other attractions include the Julianatop (1,230 m), the highest mountain in Suriname, the Tafelberg (Table Mountain, 1,026 meters), the Hendriktop (908 m), the Van Stockumberg (360 m), and Duivelsei (''Devil's Egg''), a rock seemingly balanced on the edge of a mountain.
The Eilerts de Haan Mountains are named for Johannes Gijsbert Willem Jacobus Eilerts de Haan, an explorer who died in Suriname's interior.
References
External links
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UNESCO site: Central Suriname Nature ReserveConservation International site: Central Suriname Nature Reserve
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Nature reserves in Suriname
Sipaliwini District
Guayana Highlands
Protected areas established in 2000
World Heritage Sites in Suriname