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The park was legally created as Lauca
Forest Reserve under Article #284 of the Department of Agriculture
on April 20, 1965 with a surface area of 271,300 hectares (596,
860 acres). Later on, it was modified under Article #29 on March
8, 1983, setting new boundaries and being renamed Lauca National
Park with a total area of 137,883 hectares (303,342 acres).
The Lauca National Park stands out
from the country’s other protected wild areas because of the large
variety of birds and mammals that live there. This park boasts
more than 130 species, more than any other place in the country.
NATURAL
HERITAGE
Guanacos,
guemuls, llamas, pumas
and foxes
can be observed in the pre-Andean chain (between altitudes of
2,800 and 3,800m or 9184 and 12,464 ft). In the high plateau,
and over 4,000m (13,120 ft) above sea level, the vicuñas and alpacas
are the only animals that have adapted to the extreme conditions
of the high altitudes. You can also find llamas, alpacas and puna
tinamou in this area, but no higher than 4,000m. Pumas and foxes
live a little further below. The Chungara Lake is home to many
birds, for example, the blanquillo, the huairavo, the flamingo,
the juarjual duck, the
giant taqua and the jargon duck (small). These last three
can also be observed at the Bof lagoons and in Parinacota, and
the vizcachas, at Las Cuevas (4,000m).
The pre-Andean chain area, which
includes altitudes between 3,200 and 3,800m (10,496 and 12,464
ft), is covered with low thickets along the hillsides, the typical
vegetation of this zone. You can also admire queñoa forests
along the gorges and hillsides. Two types of prairies can be distinguished
in the high plateau: dry and humid.
Among the park’s vegetation, the
llareta deserves special mention. This is a light green bush that
grows in hard, compact beds. At 20mm (2 cm) a year, it grows very
slowly. The use of the llareta as a domestic fuel in the mines
and saltpeter refineries took it to near extinction.
In the east of the park, the geography
is irregular. The most important peaks are the volcanoes, namely
the Parinacota at 6,342m (20,801 ft) and the Pomerape at 6,282m
(20,604 ft), known as the Payachatas, the Guallatire at 6,060m
(19,876 ft) and the Acotango at 6,050m (19,844 ft). Moreover,
in the high plateau that embraces much of the park's central zone,
there are volcanic boilers, like the Ajoya and the Tejene, and
lava fields, like the Cotacotani.
The most important river is the Lauca,
which springs from the Parinacota and subsequently crosses the
border to flow into the Coipasa salt deposit in Bolivia. The Lluta
River, on the other side, flows into the Pacific Ocean.
We can also find the Cotacotani lagoons, a group of several lagoons
inside a lava field; and the Chungara lake, one of the most elevated
in the world, located at an altitude of 4,514 meters (14,806 ft)
and with a surface area of about 21.5 km2 (13 square miles).
HISTORICAL
OR CULTURAL HERITAGE
The park is part of a long, early
initiated cultural tradition that began with hunter-gatherers
that traveled the area over thousands of years. Proof of this
comes from the fossils found in the Las Cuevas zone, dating back
some 9,000 years and that correspond to bonfire debris left in
the area.
Later, the Inca domain brought a
notorious influence to the local communities by imposing their
social and political organization on them. These communities were
based on Ayllus, or family societies, with a common geographical
center. This kind of organization survived the Spanish Conquest
and still remains today. Currently, these villages serve as ceremonial
centers for local people as well as administrative headquarters
which offer major services. Nevertheless, this rural development
departed along with Arica’s industrial progress, and this, in
turn, resulted in the depopulation of the zone. This situation
is typical in the case of many high-Andean villages.
The most relevant archeological spots
are: Tambo Quemado, a rocky shelter located in Las Cuevas and
the Las Cuevas Inca Chacus.
The people that live inside the park
originated from the Aymaran. They continue to maintain their cultural
patterns and traditions, such as extensive shepherding of llamas
and alpacas, Andean music, and pagan-religious festivities (cross
of May, carnival, Christmas).
Parinacota town is located inside
the park and it is formed by 50 houses which are closed most of
the time while their owners live in the shepherding areas. They
only return to town for the religious festivities or carnivals.
The church is distinctive because of its indigenous-colonial design,
built with volcanic material and dating back to the 17th century.
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