Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve

Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
Location of Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve Show map of Quebec Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve (Canada) Show map of Canada
Nearest city	Saint-Elzéar
Coordinates	48°16′00″N 65°21′00″W / 48.26667°N 65.35000°W / 48.26667; -65.35000
Area	44.27 km2 (17.09 sq mi)
Established	June 20, 2005

Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar Biodiversity Reserve (French: Réserve de biodiversité du Karst-de-Saint-Elzéar) is a biodiversity reserve located in Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, Canada, around 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the town of Saint-Elzéar. It was established on June 20, 2005. It lies between latitudes 48°13’N and 48°19’N and between longitudes 65°17’W and 65°25’W. The elevation of the reserve lies at between 135 m (443 ft) and 605 m (1,985 ft).^[1]

Within the reserve, seven caves have been discovered, although only one of them (grotte de Saint-Elzéar) is open to the public. It is the only reserve to conserve a karst.^[2]

The cave is always 4 °C (39 °F), whatever the time of year. It is 200 m (660 ft) long and 35 m (115 ft) deep. It is estimated to be around 230,000 years old, making it one of the oldest caves in Quebec.^[2]