- El Leoncito National Park
Infobox_protected_area | name = El Leoncito National Park
iucn_category = II
caption =
base_width = 144
locator_x = 109
locator_y = 67
location = San Juan Province,Argentina
nearest_city =
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long_degrees =
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area = 760 km²
established =1994
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =Administración de Parques Nacionales The "El Leoncito National Park" is a
national park ofArgentina , located at theCalingasta Department , in the southwest of the province of San Juan. It has an area of 760 km². It was created in1994 as a reserve and became a national park in2002 , in order to protect representative samples of the Puna and High Andeanscrubland s, as well as historical and paleontological sites (including a portion of the Inca's Way).Given the lack of atmospheric pollution in this area, it is particularly suitable for astronomical observations. Within the park are two astronomical observatories:
Félix Aguilar Observatory and theLeoncito Astronomical Complex . (Compare this withMount Catequilla in Ecuador, as described under Astronomical observations in the article about theequator .)The climate is cold, with permanent ice, in the High Andean region. In the Puna, the climate is cold and dry, with large thermical amplitudes. The average annual rainfall is 200 mm. The flora is mostly made up of
shrub s, typical of dry mountainous areas. The fauna include important species like theguanaco and birds of prey such as theperegrine falcon (the fastest bird on Earth).References
* [http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.ar/i/03_ap/10_leoncito_PN/10_leoncito_PN.htm Administración de Parques Nacionales] - Argentina's National Park Administration (in Spanish)
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