Morro dos Seis Lagos Biological Reserve

Morro dos Seis Lagos Biological Reserve
Reserva Biológica Morro Dos Seis Lagos
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Sunset on the Morro dos Seis Lagos
Nearest city	São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas
Coordinates	0°19′06″N 66°41′33″W / 0.318387°N 66.692440°W / 0.318387; -66.692440Coordinates: 0°19′06″N 66°41′33″W / 0.318387°N 66.692440°W / 0.318387; -66.692440
Area	36,900 ha (142 sq mi)
Designation	Biological reserve
Created	9 March 1990
Administrator	Secretaria de Estado do Meio Ambiente do Amazonas

The Morro dos Seis Lagos Biological Reserve (Portuguese: Reserva Biológica Morro Dos Seis Lagos) is a biological reserve in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. It protects an inselberg in the Amazon rainforest that contains valuable minerals. Mining has been prohibited since the reserve protected, and since it is in an indigenous territory.

The Morro dos Seis Lagos (Hill of the Six Lakes) Biological Reserve is in the municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas. It has an area of 36,900 hectares (91,000 acres). The reserve lies within the Balaio Indigenous Territory. It is surrounded by the Pico da Neblina National Park. Highway BR-307 runs through the reserve, connecting the town of São Gabriel da Cachoeira to Cucuí on the Rio Negro near the point where the river enters Brazil. The reserve is accessible by boat via the Igarapé-Mirim. It is 822 kilometres (511 mi) from Manaus.

The hill is an inselberg that may be the remains of a longer pediplain. The reserve is drained by streams of the Rio Negro basin, which form waterfalls. It contains six lakes, from which it takes its name, with different colors due to dissolved minerals. It contains caves and collapsed rock structures. There is high potential for development of ecotourism.

The region contains large mineral reserves, including rich deposits of iron, manganese and niobium. The latter are important for manufacture of electronic devices such as computers and cellphones. The Companhia de Pesquisas e Recursos Minerais (CPRM) claimed the mineral rights based on a concession and explorations that started in 1975. The CPRM is owned by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The 1988 constitution only allows mining on indigenous territories when authorized by a specific law. The Indians expressed opposition to mining.