Etang de Miragoane

The Étang de Miragoâne sits in a limestone basin a short way inland from the town, and unlike Azuei it is fresh. Karst hills come down to the shore, water lilies cover large parts of the surface, and the lake is fed and drained through the rock rather than by any large river. It carries a heavy bird list, including West Indian whistling duck and masked duck, and it is the most important freshwater wetland on this side of the country.

What you actually see

• The lily beds - floating vegetation covering much of the surface.
• The karst rim - limestone hills closing in around the water.
• The ducks - West Indian whistling duck and masked duck among the resident species.
• The fishing pirogues - small boats worked from the shore villages.

When to go

November to March is drier and the best for birds and for the road. Water level changes noticeably between seasons and the lily cover with it. Mornings are calmest.

Honest expectations

There is no infrastructure of any kind and access is through farmland and village ground. Boats are informal and are negotiated on the spot. Water hyacinth and lily cover can make parts of the lake unnavigable.

Nearby

Miragoane town and the coast road are just north, and the Cayemites are further west.