The
Reserve
basically
consists
of
Lake
Limoncacha
(formerly
known
as
Capucuy),
the
zones
adjacent
to
the
lake
and
Laguna
Negra
(
Black
Lake
)
or
Yanacocha.
Distantly
related
to
River
Napo,
it
has
a
surface
area
of
approximately
two
and
a
half
kilometers
squared
and
accommodates
one
of
the
world’s
most
diverse
biological
ecosystems.
Alligators,
in
particular
the
black
alligator,
are
characteristic
of
the
lake
as
are
a
diverse
range
of
bird
species.
In
line
with
the
Holdridge
Classification
system,
the
entire
Reserve
is
categorised
as
tropical
rainforest.
However,
inside
the
Reserve
other
types
of
interesting
life
zones
and
terrains
exist,
such
as
swamps,
flooded
terrain,
dry
land
and
aquatic
ecosystems.
Throughout
the
year
the
Reserve
is
constantly
exposed
to
solar
radiation
with
atmospheric
humidity
reaching
a
high
of
80
per
cent.
On
clear,
sunny
days
humidity
can
drop
to
50
per
cent
when
the
temperature
rises
to
30
degrees
centigrade.
Tree
canopies
occasionally
suffer
extreme
drought
on
long
sunny
days
and
as
a
result
have
developed
several
defence
mechanisms
to
regulate
this.
Extremely
thick,
hairy
leaves
with
bio-structures
similar
to
those
of
mosses
and
lichens
are
characteristic
of
the
vegetation
here,
differentiating
the
vegetation
from
that
of
the
Amazonian
region.
Last
Updated
21st
July
2006
(DLW)
