{"id":559,"date":"2021-11-29T15:51:54","date_gmt":"2021-11-29T14:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.karibiodiv.net\/en\/?post_type=post_site&p=559"},"modified":"2025-06-27T20:30:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T18:30:35","slug":"pointe-des-chateaux-and-its-salt-flats","status":"publish","type":"post_site","link":"https:\/\/www.karibiodiv.net\/en\/sites-naturels\/pointe-des-chateaux-and-its-salt-flats\/","title":{"rendered":"POINTE DES CHATEAUX AND ITS SALT FLATS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Description<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

141.10 ha peninsula located to the south-east of Grande-Terre, the Pointe des Ch\u00e2teaux is made up of calcareous* soils covered with xerophytic* plant formations, typical of dry coastal areas. In that area, different environments come together: limestone cliffs, which dominate 43 m above two rocky islets, six lagoons* and several beaches that separate these groups. Among the six lagoons, the Grande Saline covers approximately 15 ha, making it the most impressive (the others often cover less than 1 ha).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The busiest site in Guadeloupe, with 500,000 visitors a year, welcomes sunrise lovers and hikers. At the top of the cross, you can enjoy a 360\u00b0 view of the Pointe des Ch\u00e2teaux peninsula, but also of La D\u00e9sirade, Marie Galante and Petite Terre. On a clear day, you can even see Basse Terre and the Saintes archipelago.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Pointe des Chateaux and its cross<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
View of D\u00e9sirade from the Pointe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Biodiversity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Among its vegetation are hidden several sensitive species that are heritage of the area, some of which are protected, such as the green wood (Symplocos guadeloupensis<\/em>), the water mampoo (Pisonia subcordata<\/em>) and the shoreline purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum<\/em>). On the edge of the salt flat you can find a black mangrove forest (Avicennia germinans<\/em>); along the beach you can see stinging cherry (Malpighia martinicensis<\/em>), seagrapes (Coccoloba uvifera<\/em>) and grey nicker (Caesalpinia bonduc); and St. Thomas prickly-ash (Zanthoxylum punctatum<\/em>) on the cliffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fauna is varied. On the islets of La Roche and L’Eperon, there are 1,500 to 2,000 pairs of sooty terns (Onychoprion fuscatus<\/em>) and this is the most important site in Guadeloupe for their nesting; other species of terns also inhabit here. The cliffs are home to the red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus<\/em>). Least terns (Sternula antillarum<\/em>) and 5 endemic species of the Lesser Antilles, the green-throated carib (Eulampis holosericeus<\/em>) and the antillean crested hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus<\/em>), the scaly-breasted thrasher (Allenia fusca<\/em>), the lesser antillean bullfinch (Loxigilla noctis<\/em>), and the lesser antillean saltator (Saltator albicollis<\/em>); nest in the thickets and shrub formations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain terrestrial reptiles with a restricted appearance are also of interest to the site, in particular\u00a0 the fantastic least gecko, also known as fantastic sphaero (Sphaerodactylus fantasticus<\/em>).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ecotourism potential<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The site offers a 2 km walk including the ascent to the Morne Pavillon viewpoint where the cross is located. Well equipped and giving access to an exceptional panorama; it’s a joy to walk along the cliffs, up the road to Pointe la Chaise and continue across the rocky plain to Anse Degrat before merging onto the road for a well-deserved sherbet or shave ice. This short and generally hot excursion, often ends with a swim in the calm waters of Anse Tarare beach.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video link, aerial view: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n