Lauca National Park

Lauca National Park is within the Chilean Andes in Chile's far north. It encompasses an area of 1,379 sq km (532 sq mi) of Altiplano and mountains, mainly consisting of enormous volcanoes. The park lies within the Central Andean dry puna ecoregion.

One of the main attractions is the small lacustrine area formed by Chungará and Cotacotani lakes, which lies at the foothills of the Payachata volcanic group. Other majestic volcanoes forming part of the national park are the Guallatiri and the Acotango.

The headwaters of the Lauca River are found within the National Park, and the Lluta River borders the park to the west.

Lauca National Park features include archaeological sites, lava fields, and volcanic calderas. Located within the park is the town of Parinacota, with its colonial church.

Flora and Fauna

Mammals in the area include vicuñas, llamas, alpacas, guanacos, tarucas, cougars and vizcachas. There are over 140 bird species, making it one of the best national parks for birding in Chile. Species 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 (high altitude wetland), llaretales (areas dominated by Llareta, a cushion plant) and Andean steppes (high altitude grassland).

Lauca Biosphere Reserve

The Lauca Biosphere Reserve is situated in the Puna biogeographic region in the northern part of Chile in the Andean Chain. The area comprises three protected areas:

• Lauca National Park

• Las Vicuñas National Reserve

• Salar de Surire Natural Monument

The vast plateau of the Altiplano consists of meadows, crossed by deep gorges, dotted with lagoons, dark lava outcrops and occasional white sparkling saltpans, and many permanent fresh, brackish, and saline lakes and marshes. There are also some fast-flowing mountain rivers and streams.

The Lauca Biosphere Reserve has high floristic value, representing a large part of Andean biodiversity in Chile. The following plant formations can be found here:

• Low "Tolar" scrubland: characterized by shrub-like plants with resinous leaves and branches, with stunted growth forming relatively dense scrubland with dominant trees reaching up to 1 m (3.3 ft) high.

• High "Queñoal" scrubland: small trees of up to 5tall16 ft) high, growing on the slopes of the mountain ranges.

• Humid "Bofedal" steppe comprises vegetation above 4,000 m (13,000 ft) above sea level where running water exists. It includes the association of Oxychloeandina, characterized by its marshy cushion form.

• Pulvinate plants: at altitudes of 3,800 m (12,500 ft) above sea level and above, including the association of laretia compacta—parastrephia quadrangularis. Its main species, "Laretia," grows in a very compact cushion and may measure up to 2 m (6.5 ft) in diameter and 1 m (3.25 ft) in height.

One of the most critical habitats is the "Bofedales," or highland wetlands, as they provide food and water for wild and domestic fauna.

Although not very abundant, the fauna is diverse. Mammals include lama (Lama glama), alpaca (Lama pacos) and vicuña (Vigugna vicugna).

Noteworthy birds are puna ibis (Plegadis ridgwayi), huallata (Chloephaga melanoptera) and Andean condor (Vultur gryphus).

Only 200 older people (2000) of the Aymara tribe live in the area traditionally, with sustainable use of natural resources.

Las Vicuñas National Reserve

Las Vicuñas National Reserve is a nature reserve that lies immediately south of Lauca National Park and, in its southern portion, is contiguous to Salar de Surire Natural Monument, all of which form Lauca Biosphere Reserve. The major elevations are found on Arintika and Pukintika.

This Puna ecosystem preserves high-altitude wildlife, including Vicuñas, for which the reserve is named. Much of the Reserve consists of extensive Andean steppes cut by rivers and quebradas, the Lauca River being the main one.

Typical vegetation includes pajonal, tolar and llaretal formations. In some areas, it is possible to find specimens of Polylepis tarapacana.

Salar de Surire Natural Monument

Salar de Surire Natural Monument consists mainly of a salt flat and several small salt lakes, sheltering several Andean species of wildlife and plants. Arintica volcano towers over the salt flat. Salar de Surire is a Ramsar wetland.