This 15 000ha bay lying to the north of Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre islands comprises an area of mangrove swamps, marshy forests, herbaceous marshland, beds of seagrass and sandbanks which is home to numerous species of fish, crustaceans and molluscs. A 39km-long coral reef protects the bay from the swell of the sea, making it the perfect site for nesting birds. The nature reserve is managed by the Guadeloupe National Park. Numerous boat trips to the reserve operate from Sainte-Rose.