Médio Juruá Extractive Reserve, Extractive reserve in Amazonas, Brazil.

The Médio Juruá Extractive Reserve sits along the left bank of the Juruá River in Amazonas and covers roughly 250,000 hectares of flat terrain. The landscape is marked by oxbow lakes and dense forest vegetation that supports a wide range of wildlife.

The reserve was created in 1997 through federal decree to protect both the forest and the traditional way of life of local communities. It was later incorporated into a broader network of protected areas across the region.

People living here depend on fishing, hunting, and gathering forest products that have been part of their way of life for generations. These activities shape how communities use the river and forest in their daily routines.

The area stays warm and humid year-round with heavy rainfall, so waterproof gear and protective clothing are essential for any visit. Getting around is best done with local guides who know the terrain, water routes, and how to move safely through the forest.

The reserve's name refers to its stretch of the Juruá, a whitewater river carrying sediment from the Andes, not a blackwater system. Its oxbow lakes are cut-off former meanders. The 2014 decree added over 30,000 hectares to the reserve, which now covers about 251,577 hectares.