Voltaire Falls

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Voltaire Falls
Chutes Voltaire
Chutes Voltaire 2.jpg
Guyane department relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana, France
Coordinates 05°01′54″N54°05′14″W / 5.03167°N 54.08722°W / 5.03167; -54.08722
Total height35 m
WatercourseVoltaire Creek

The Voltaire Falls (French: Chutes Voltaire) are a series of waterfalls in the Voltaire Creek, located near Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni in French Guiana, an Overseas department of France. The Voltaire Falls are the largest waterfalls in French Guiana, with a height of 35 metres. [1] It has been a protected area since 2000. [2]

Contents

Overview

The Voltaire Creek is sourced from the Voltaire Inselberg. Downstream, the creek encounters hard granite rock, causing the creek to split into two parts that descend between 35 and 45 metres, depending on the season, in a steep slope of up to 40%. [1] [3] About 200 metres later, the two parts rejoin, confluencing with the Sparouine Creek and continuing onto the Maroni River. [4] The left arm is the widest, however the right arm offers a more impressive view. [1]

An area of 18,000 hectares (44,000 acres) containing the Voltaire Falls and the neighbouring Vieux Broussard Falls have been protected since 2000 by the Office National des Forêts. The area is also important for its flora and fauna, [2] as the rainforest habitat hosts a large number of endemic plant and animal species. [5]

Transport

In 1990, a trail was built to access the falls by car, however a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. [4] [6] The distance from Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is about 70 kilometres. [1] The falls can be reached by taking the road to Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, and then taking the trail to Paul Isnard, with a hike of approximately an hour and a half. [6] [7]

The area is popular for hikers in general, with a number of routes of varying difficulty. [8] [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cascades et crique Voltaire". Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel (in French). Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Permis de Bon Espoir" (PDF). Communes of Mana and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (in French). 2016. p. 47. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "Nature - VOLTAIRE FALLS - Saint-Jean-Du-Maroni". www.petitfute.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Chutes Voltaire". Bon Ti Koté (in French). Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Flora of the Guianas" (PDF). Cybertaxonomy. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Partez à l'aventure avec Jumbo Car Guyane aux Chutes Voltaire". Jumbo Car (in French). Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Diagnostic Territorial" (PDF). Saint-Laurent du Maroni (in French). p. 49. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "Voltaire Falls". all trails. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Hike Voltaire Falls Trail | best time to go". Take your Backpack. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
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