Sangay National Park
IUCN Category II - National Park
The National Park near Macas
The Sangay National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Sangay ) is located on the eastern mountain range of the Andes in central Ecuador and is approximately 517,000 hectares. It was founded on July 26, 1979, is since 1983 a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
History
In 1975 the area as a National Wildlife Refuge ( National Wildlife Reserve ) was placed on an area of 2719 km ² protected. In 1979 the status of a national park was charged. The area was expanded in 1992 to 2458 km ², which is about doubled.
Geography
In the park, which lies at an altitude 800-5319 meters, has a subtropical climate with temperatures up to 26 ° C. In the Sangay National Park, there are three volcanoes: the eponymous, 5230 m high Sangay, Tungurahua and the volcano El Altar.
El Altar is at an altitude of 5319 meters, also the highest point in the park. The lowest point is at about 800 meters.
The Sangay National Park covers parts of the provinces of Cañar, Tungurahua, Chimborazo and Morona Santiago.
Vegetation
More than 80 % of the park area is covered by natural vegetation. Three fundamentally different vegetation zones prevail: (1 ) Alpine and subalpine páramo (wet grasslands), (2) fog and mountain rain forests, and (3 ) Tropical lowland rain forests. Below are the páramo areas of particular importance.
Wildlife
The park, which is the natural and cultural protection, is an important refuge for rare animals such as tapirs, spectacled bears and Andean condors. Especially for the rare mountain tapir, the park is one of the most important refuges dar. In addition to the mountain tapir pumas, Andean mountain jackals and guinea pigs are typical inhabitants of the alpine and subalpine areas. In its underlying forests live spectacled bears, giant otters, jaguars, ocelots, long-tailed cats, tapirs, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium ) Rotmazamas and Nordpudus. A total of about 300-400 species of birds live in this have not yet been thoroughly studied area.
Threat
Between 1992 and 2005, the park was on the Red List of World Heritage in Danger due to road construction plans. Poaching, illegal Viehweidung and other interventions at the edges of the conservation area are more threats.