Lauca National Park

Infobox_Protected_area | name = Lauca National Park
iucn_category = II

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caption = The white dot is the location of Arica
base_width = 160
locator_x = 120
locator_y = 105
location = Arica-Parinacota Region, Chile
nearest_city = Putre
lat_degrees = 18
lat_minutes = 14
lat_seconds = 40
lat_direction = S
long_degrees = 69
long_minutes = 21
long_seconds = 14
long_direction = W
area = 1,379 km²
established = 1970
visitation_num = 14,445
visitation_year = 2004
governing_body = Corporación Nacional Forestal

Lauca National Park is located in Chile's far north, in the Andean range. It encompasses an area of 1,379 km² of altiplano and mountains, the latter consisting mainly of enormous volcanoes. Las Vicuñas National Reserve is its neighbour to the south. Both protected areas, along with Salar de Surire Natural Monument, form Lauca Biosphere Reserve. The park borders Sajama National Park in Bolivia.

Geography

One of the main attractions of the park is the small lacustrine area formed by Chungará and Cotacotani lakes, which lies at the foothills of the Nevados de Payachata. Other majestic volcanoes forming part of the national park are the Guallatiri and the Acotango. Lauca features include archaeological sites, lava fields and volcanic calderas. Within the park is located the town of Parinacota with its colonial church.

The headwaters of Lauca River are also found within the park and bordering it to the west is Lluta River.

The international Route CH-11 passes through this protected area. It runs from the Pan-American Highway in the vicinity of Arica to Tambo Quemado Pass and provides the main access to the park.

Biology

Several species of animals and plants can be found in the park. Mammals in the area include Vicuñas, Llamas, Alpacas, Guanacos, Tarucas, Cougars and Vizcachas.

There are over 140 bird speciescite journal| last =Rundel| first =Philip W. | authorlink =| coauthors =Beatriz Palma| title =Preserving the Unique Puna Ecosystems of the Andean Altiplano: A Descriptive Account of Lauca National Park, Chile | journal =Mountain Research and Development| volume =20| issue =3| pages =262–271| date =August 2000| url =http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0276-4741(200008)20%3A3%3C262%3APTUPEO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-D| doi =| id =| accessdate =2007-09-24| month =Aug| year =2000] , making it one of the best national parks for birding in Chile. Those include Puna Ibis, Andean Goose, Giant Coot, Puna Tinamou, Silvery Grebe, Crested Duck, Puna Teal, Andean Condor and Chilean Flamingo.

Over 400 species of vascular plants grow in Lauca National Park. The park's vegetation is adapted to the harsh puna environment, as are the bofedales, llaretales and Andean steppes.

References

*Es icon [http://www.sernatur.cl/Areas_Silvestres/Tarapaca/Tarapaca.html Parque Nacional Lauca]
* [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/wdpa/sitedetails.cfm?siteid=86&level=nat World Database on Protected Areas entry]

External links

* [http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/sites/pa/0081q.htm WCMC Site Sheet (Aug. 1990)]