This reserve consists of the water inlet area and the islands of the St. Lucia estuary and stretches over 12 miles at its widest point to the north. The water is shallow, with an average depth of about 3 feet, although there are many deep channels and gullies. More than 600 hippos spend the daylight hours in the waters of the lake. In the evenings they make their way out to the grazing grounds surrounding the estuary along the hippo paths that crisscross the area. Crocodiles are common in all parts, but the greatest numbers concentrate where the rivers enter central St. Lucia. The Crocodile Center near the village is well worth a visit, as it explains the biology, way of life, and importance of this reptile. The waters of the lake teem with fish, crustaceans, insects, and micro-organisms. A large breeding population of the fish eagle is found here; between 1,000 and 2,000 pairs of white pelicans are regularly counted; and twelve different heron species breed around the lake shore.