Lauca National Park. Putre - CHILE
Direccion:
Putre Web:
http://www.conaf.cl/parques/parque-nacional-lauca/ The Lauca National Park covers an area of ??137,883 hectares and is located in the commune of Putre, Province of Parinacota. It includes the foothills and the high plateau of the northeast end of the Tarapac? Region
It presents rain in summer and snow in winter; the climate is dry with 280 m. of annual average precipitation and an average temperature that oscillates between 12 and 20 ? C during the day and -3 to -10 ? C at night.
In general, the relief of the Park is irregular. The Parinacota volcanoes stand out at 6,342 meters above sea level; Pomerape, 6,282 meters above sea level; Guallarite, of 6.060 msn m. and Acotango, 6,050 meters above sea level. In addition, in the sector of the high plateau (that includes great part of the central zone of the Park) volcanic boilers exist the Ajoya and the Tejene and fields of lava the Cotacotani
How to get to the Lauca National Park:
The main access to the Lauca National Park is the International Highway CH-11, which connects the towns of Arica and Tambo Quemado. It crosses the park through the center and consists of two paved roads of excellent quality and passable all year round.
Other secondary access roads are: in the north central part, the Visviri-Parinacota Route; on the Southwest Route A-231, through the port of Chapiqui?a; and on the South Route A-235, which allows access from the Las Vicu?as National Reserve. All these roads correspond to dirt roads of regular quality, but passable throughout the year. During January and February, four-wheel drive vehicles must be used to access the A-235 route, which connects the Park in the Las Vicu?as National Reserve and the rest of the existing Protected Wildlife areas to the south of the high plateau.
Flora and fauna:
Even when the unit has many more plant species than those indicated below, these are the most representative. Chachacoma, Llareta, Paja brava, Que?oa, Tola, Que?oa de altura
Birds and mammals are, without a doubt, one of the most outstanding resources of this park, due to its quantity, diversity and ease of observation. Birds are represented by more than 60 different species.
Among the most typical species are: guanaco (Lama guanicoe), vicuna (Vicugna vicugna), llama (Lama glama), taruca (Hippocamelus antisensis), puma (Puma concolor), fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus) and vizcacha (Lagidium viscacia cuvieri). Among the birds: ?and? or suri (Rhea pennata tarapacensis), partridge of the puna or kiula (Tinamotis pentlandii), Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), large parina (Phoenicoparrus andinus) and small parina (Phoenicopterus jamesi).
Tourist Information
Area Administration:
It is located in the town of Parinacota at 19 km. from Chungar? Lake and 46 km. from the town of Putre. In the town of Putre, the provincial capital of Parinacota, the sub-administration of the Park is located. The hours of operation in the different nurseries are from 09:00 to 12:30 hrs. and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day of the year. An environmental information center operates in the town of Parinacota, where the visitor is received and a general background of the unit is provided.
Ranger Office:
The National Park has, in addition to the Administration in Parinacota, with: the Las Cuevas nursery at 5 km. from the main entrance of the Unit, in the sector of the same name and on the banks of the Arica-Tambo Quemado road (CH-11); and the Chungar? nursery, located on the shores of Lake Chungar?. It also has a guest house located in the town of Putre.