LAC DE PETIT-SAUT

Sightseeing at Lac de Petit Saut: a magnificent destination for birdwatching, Lac de Petit Saut is a must-see in French Guiana! Still quite wild, this former valley flooded by the dam provides access by water to some fairly deep spots in the forest. By pirogue or kayak, depending on your preference, you can observe the wildlife in the wild. And the further you go, the more animals you'll see. Numerous service providers offer their services (by the day or over several days, to get you to the bottom of the lake), but you can also go it alone by renting your own equipment (no network coverage, so think about renting a satellite phone). Easily accessible by road to the degrad, there's also a large parking lot right next door. The area is reputed to be home to some of the rarest animals, and it's not hard to spot toucans, macaws, howler monkeys and giant otters on an outing. Of course, nothing is guaranteed - this is the beauty of nature in its untamed state.

Exploiting the lake: Petit Saut covers around 45% of French Guiana's electricity needs thanks to hydroelectric power, but a new form of exploitation has just begun in order to make ever greater use of natural resources and produce more electricity. And so, just when we thought the controversies were behind us and the lake had been accepted by all since the early 2000s, new waves of unrest have arisen! With the aim of increasing electricity production, the recovery of dead trees submerged during the lake's impoundment has now become a reality. The Triton company has joined forces with Voltalia (who will operate the future biomass power plant), and after the dam was submerged in 1994, harvesting of the Petit Saut woods began in July 2023, for a planned duration of 25 years. But while the Triton project should provide 10 megawatts of energy from the biomass plant, it is not without consequences. Indeed, the almost lunar landscape that gave the site its charm is about to disappear, at least in large part. Many guides are concerned about the impact this could have on all the biodiversity that has developed as a result over the past 30 years. And with all the dead trees still suspended above or below the water being cleared, it could be the arrival of more boats and jet-skis on the lake in years to come.