Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve

Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve (French: Réserve de biodiversité du Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar) is a biodiversity reserve located in Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, Canada, around 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the town of Saint-Elzéar. It was established on June 20, 2005. It lies between latitudes 48°13’N and 48°19’N and between longitudes 65°17’W and 65°25’W. The elevation of the reserve lies at between 135 m (443 ft) and 605 m (1,985 ft).[1]

Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve
Map showing the location of Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve
Map showing the location of Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve
Location of Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve
Map showing the location of Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve
Map showing the location of Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve
Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve (Canada)
Nearest citySaint-Elzéar
Coordinates48°16′00″N 65°21′00″W / 48.26667°N 65.35000°W / 48.26667; -65.35000
Area44.27 km2 (17.09 sq mi)
EstablishedJune 20, 2005

Within the reserve, seven caves have been discovered, although only one of them (grotte de Saint-Elzéar) is open to the public. It is the only reserve to conserve a karst.[2]

The cave is always 4 °C (39 °F), whatever the time of year. It is 200 m (660 ft) long and 35 m (115 ft) deep. It is estimated to be around 230,000 years old, making it one of the oldest caves in Quebec.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Réserve de biodiversité du Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar" (PDF). MDDELCC. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "La réserve de biodiversité du Karst de Saint-Elzéar" (in French). Retrieved January 18, 2017.