Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve
The Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Abaroa is at least 60,000 visitors each year, the most visited National Park in Bolivia. It was founded in 1973 and bears the name of Eduardo Abaroa, a war hero of the Salpeterkrieges.
The mountains of the reserve in the department of Potosí are the highest mountains in the Andes on the border of Bolivia to Chile and Argentina. Within the reserve are comparable to the Yellowstone National Park in the United States, many active volcanoes are called to find springs, geysers and steaming fumaroles.
Overview
The reserve covers an area of about 7147 km ² and is an average of 4,000 meters above sea level. The climate is dry in the winter Between May and August and humid in the summer months from December to April, with the average annual rainfall is low 65 mm. The annual average temperature is 3 ° C, while the lowest temperatures occur from May to July.
On the territory of the park there are two small settlements, Quetena Chico and Grande Quetena living on tourism, mining and Lama attitude.
Topography
The nature reserve is located in a region with an irregular relief with extensive plateaus and plains in the west, flanked by the volcanic Cordillera Occidental, whose highest peak is the volcano Licancabur.
Hydrographic
In the region there are some lakes, such as the Laguna Verde, Laguna Colorada and Laguna Blanca.
Flora
Despite the extreme environment in the nature reserve at least 190 plant species grow. The species have adapted to the harsh conditions of salinity, lack of fresh water, the low temperatures and lack of nutrients.
The vegetation is characterized by the strong presence of some grasses ( Jarava ichu, Panicum prionitis ) characterized. At points of the largest humidity are found in rocky areas and Baccharis dracunculifolia Polylepis and Yareta.
Animals
The fauna is characterized by the presence of endemic species that are adapted to the extreme conditions of life in the region. Some of them are threatened with extinction.
In the reserve live 80 species of birds, including three types Flamingo (Phoenicopterus andinus, Chile and James Flamingo Flamingo ), which are the main attraction; also Andean geese, hawks, ducks, Andean Condor, Nandu and Darwin Nandu.
In addition, there are 23 species of mammals, pumas, Andean foxes, Viscacha and vicuna.
Threats
The Reserve Eduardo Abaroa is because of its topography and remoteness one of the most economically disadvantaged regions of Bolivia. The beauty attracts a large number of tourists, but tourism is usually irregular and disordered. Most of the more than 60,000 visitors who take the long journey to the reserve to itself, use a vehicle with all-wheel drive and tour guide without proper training. These vehicles disturb the animal and plant world and destroy the sensitive landscapes. The lack of a tourist infrastructure contributes to the pollution of the landscape by human waste.
Mining and inappropriate agricultural practices also bring problems for the biological, ecological and historic area. Mining, with about 61 active mines within the boundaries of the reserve is an important industry in the park and its surroundings.