Amana Nature Reserve | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
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Location | French Guiana, France |
Nearest city | Awala-Yalimapo |
Coordinates | 5°44′30″N 53°53′34″W / 5.7417°N 53.8927°W |
Area | 148 km2 (57 sq mi)[1] |
Established | 13 March 1998[1] |
Governing body | Regional Natural Park of French Guiana |
Website | Reserves-Naturelles.org (in French) |
The Amana Nature Reserve (French: Réserve naturelle nationale de l'Amana) is a nature reserve in French Guiana, France.[2] It has been protected, because it is one of the world's largest leatherback turtle nesting site.[3][4] It is part of the communes of Awala-Yalimapo and Mana.[1]
The nature reserve stretches from the Maroni to the Organobo River . The reserve consists of beaches, mangrove forests, swamps and savannahs.[2]
Leatherback sea turtles need very specific nesting beaches, and return to the same beach every two to three years. It is an vulnerable species with a limited number of suitable beaches.[5] The neighbouring Wia Wia Nature Reserve in Suriname was used by the turtles as well until the beach shifted resulting in the disappearance of the turtles.[6]
The beaches at Amana were home to 5,029 to 63,294 nests between 1967 and 2005.[5] The turtles lay their eggs between March and July, dig a hole which will contain 80 to 90 eggs. The hole is located between the high water mark and the vegetation. The baby turtles will emerge about two months later.[7]
Other turtles who use the beach are the green sea turtle, the olive ridley sea turtle and occasionally the hawksbill sea turtle.[2]