Llullaillaco National Park
The National Park Llullaillaco is a 2687 km ² large Chilean national park in the Región de Antofagasta. It is located 275 km southeast of the city of Antofagasta on the Argentine border in the Andes and is named after the Llullaillaco, the third highest volcano in the world and is maintained by the Corporación Nacional Forestal.
Geography
The park is located at the height level of the Andean Puna and is bounded to the west by the Cordillera Domeyko that separates him from the Atacama Desert. He is surrounded by salt lakes Punta Negra, Aguas Calientes and the Salar de Pajonales.
The altitude varies 3500-6739 m.
Noteworthy is near the Laguna de la Azufrera at the foot of Aubrey volcano.
To the east of the park is adjacent to Argentina, the highest peak is the Llullaillaco ( 6739 m). The whole of the eastern part is very mountainous, with peaks such as Cerro Guanaqueros ( 5131 m), Cerro Zorritas ( 4274 m), Cerro Bayo ( 4920 m), the Cerro Aguas Calientes ( 5066 m ) and the Cerro de la Pena ( 5260 m).
The west of the park is dominated by the relatively high Andean plains, which extend the mountains of Domeyko and crossed by streams. Among the stream valleys can Llullaillaco Quebrada, which are Quebrada de Tocomar and the Quebrada de las Zorritas highlighted - is at the latter station of the park guard. The streams flow all in the Salar de Punta Negra outside the park boundaries. In the southwest of Rio Frio stands out, which flows from south to north; The mountains here are the Cerro Largo's Pasty ( 4890 m), Cerro Punta del Viento ( 4822 m) and the Cerro Guanaco ( 4150 m) of the Cordillera Domeyko. Mark the western boundary of the park.
Climate
The climate is desert -like due to the altitude and the cold Humboldt current characteristics of the tundra. The Humboldt current also provides for low temperatures.
In the summer, sometimes reaching the rainfall from the other side of the Cordillera the area, but already weakened considerably, with the number of mountain ranges that cross it. In winter it can snow storms give similar to those in the Antarctic. Apart from that, the atmospheric conditions are relatively stable.
Above 5700 m is the zone of eternal snow.
History
Pre-Hispanic shepherds and hunters took advantage of the current park area and built their homes near the water courses. Here they laid their cultures, grazed their cattle and went hunting.
The settlement area was also that of the Incas, who worshiped the high peaks of the Andes and used it as religious places of worship. An Inca Trail crossed the lower area of the park at Rio Frio, where there are five archaeological sites; have been found there, among other pre-Hispanic drums. The Quebrada de Tocomar is another area where there are archaeological sites.
Almost at the summit of Llullaillaco the remains were of three mummified by the great cold bodies of the Inca found.
Flora
In the park 126 species of botanical flora were registered, of which 21 are endemic.
They are mainly found in the meadows and pastures of the mountain pastures. In the Quebrada de las Zorritas can watch Pilaya, Bailahuén, verbena and Tola; on the other hand grow on the Rio Frio the Añawaya blanca and the Common Fenugreek.
Fauna
Despite the difficult living conditions in the park are a comparatively large number of species, the pull of the mountains in search of water and shade.
Densely populated is the park of guanacos (Lama guanicoe ) and vicuña ( Vicugna vicugna ), he is the only area in which they live together. Among other mammals in the Andes Jackal ( Pseudalopex culpaeus ) is observed. There are a number of endemic birds.