Central Suriname Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Central Suriname Nature Reserve was created in 1998 by Conservation International
and the government of Suriname
. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
in 2000 for its pristine tropical rainforest ecosystem, and contains 16,000 square kilometres (6,178 sq mi) of both montane and lowland primary tropical forest including sections of the Guyana Highlands.
Some of the most outstanding features in Central Suriname Nature Reserve are several granite dome
s - uplifted monoliths of granite rising high above the surrounding rainforest. Barren surface of dark-colored granite
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.
Conservation International
Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
and the government of Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
in 2000 for its pristine tropical rainforest ecosystem, and contains 16,000 square kilometres (6,178 sq mi) of both montane and lowland primary tropical forest including sections of the Guyana Highlands.
Some of the most outstanding features in Central Suriname Nature Reserve are several granite dome
Granite dome
A granite dome is a dome of granite, formed by exfoliation.-Formation:Granite forms plutons of igneous rock several kilometers below the surface as magma slowly cools and crystallizes. The granite is under great overhead pressure....
s - uplifted monoliths of granite rising high above the surrounding rainforest. Barren surface of dark-colored granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
is exposed to impact of Sun thus creating unique xerophytic
Xerophyte
A xerophyte or xerophytic organism is a plant which has adapted to survive in an environment that lacks water, such as a desert. Xerophytic plants may have adapted shapes and forms or internal functions that reduce their water loss or store water during long periods of dryness...
biotope which includes also endemic plant species. The best known granite dome is the 245 m high Voltzberg.