The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve is a World Heritage Site, located behind the Mosquitia coast of Honduras. It comprises of the largest surviving area of undistributed tropical rainforest in Honduras and one of the few remaining in Central America. The area contains a wide range of habitats with abundant and varied plant and wildlife. The reserve comprises of mountains and the coastal plains with lagoons. The Biosphere Reserve covers a 115 km long Platano River.
The buffer zone includes half the Paulaya Valley and part of the lower Sico Valley. These form boundaries with the reserve. The mountains comprise of steep ridges, a granite pinnacle, waterfalls, and many rock formations. The coastal plains include two lagoons of fresh and brackish water, and sandy beaches.The climate change is hot and humid all year especially from May to November. The reserve houses more than two thousand species of local and exotic vascular plants.
At the highest mountain forest, the dominant trees are mahogany and cedar. Other common species are bamboo and Chamaedorea. The reserve is a home to about 200 species of reptiles and amphibians, including at least seven poisonous snakes, green turtle, and American crocodile. The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve offers to visitors an opportunity to learn about the nature, wildlife, and habitats.
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