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Huerquehue National Park:
EXCURSION TO THE LAKES
Among hills
and volcanoes in the pre cordillera in the region of Araucania,
the Huerquehue national park is highlighted for the beauty of its
forest and lagoons and for being one of the best destinations for
excursionist.
With only 12.500
hectares surface area, located in the Andean pre cordillera 33 kilometers
east of Pucon, between 720 and 2000 meter above sea level. Herquehue
possesses a mountainous relief, of abrupt hills, strong gorges and
an innumerous amount of springs, streams, lagoons and lakes, being
the last perhaps it best attraction.
The park
Just until a
few years back, accessing the park was very difficult: a sinuous
trail that climbed the hillside, with closed curves and gravel roads
that only permitted the transit of 4x4 vehicles. Now the access
is improved remarkably and with a periodic maintenance, permits
the access to be transitable throughout the year and for whatever
type of vehicle. To get to the reserve, you have to take the route
to Pucon and Caburgua, after 15 kilometers, take the turn off to
Paillacio that takes you to the park (19 km of gravel road).
The entrance
into the park surrounds a part of Tinquilco Lake, in a long and
narrow form, its creek on the west is flanked by steep slopes and
covered with native forest.
In the entrance
to the park, you will find the parks guard office of Conaf (National
Forestry Corporation), opposite is the camping zone beside the lake.
Here the sites are unlimited, they have natural shade and count
with a bench, bonfire, garbage bins, bathroom and parking. Additionally
a picnic zone also exists to have picnics on the shores of the lake.
The administration of the area is situated 300 meters from the entrance
with a small environmental information center.
On excursions through the
lakes
A large part
of the parks attractions are found above a thousand meters and the
only form of getting to them is on a long hike. As you can appreciate
it in the map
of the park. Excursion footpaths exist: Pampas de Quinchol, Ñirrico
and Tres Lagos.
The first, is
Pampas de Quinchol, it begins in the visitors center and
finishes in las pampas of the Quinchol Hill. This attractiveness
radiates in which permits you to observe from these heights the
Caburgua and Tinquilco Lakes, as well a appreciating the native
flora. It is a footpath that has a strong slope and has a longitude
of 4 kilometers. Ascending it all.
The Ñirrico
footpath auto-guided that starts from the administration, it counts
with nine stations where the flora and fauna that inhabits the park,
are described. It has an extension of 700 meters.
The footpath
of Tres Lagos is the longest and most popular. It has an
extension of 8 kilometers starting from the control stand booth
and is ideal for a whole days excursion. To arrive to the control
stand booth you have to cross a sector that pertains to private
property with people that live there year around and during the
summer season they offer camping services. They don't count with
adequate services therefore we recommend that you do not stay in
them.
Soon after having
entered once again on to the grounds of the park, the footpath takes
you to the Conaf control booth. From that point on, the footbath
starts to raise on the slope of the hill, through forest composed
of Antarctic beech, colihue,
coigüe
(Nothofagus dombeyi) Also known as a Southern Beech and mañío
de hoja corta, among other species. There are two lookouts - the
first is at 953 meters and the second is at 1.094 meters - from
here it is possible to appreciate the exuberance of the native forest,
observe the Tinquilco further below and from far away at the bottom
the imposing Villarrica volcano.
The footpath
crosses two waterfalls: the Nido de Aguila (eagles nest)
and the Trufulco. The paths that take you to the waterfalls
are well marked out and the authorized lookouts permit observation
of almost where the water starts to fall from the wall of solid
rock.
One at the top
of the hill, more that 1.320 meters above sea level, the footpath
arrives to the extreme part of the small lake, in its opposite shore
out-jutting rocks crowned by araucarias
rise above. At these heights this millenary tree make its appearance.
The footpath
continues surrounding the lake and crossing streams or rivulets
until arriving to the bifurcation that takes you to the Toro and
Verde lakes. To get to the Verde lagoon you have to continue straight
ahead and to get to Toro you have to divert towards the left.
Both lagoons
are surrounded by araucaria forest, and possess tranquil and crystalline
waters and in the case of the Verde lagoon, some small beaches with
sand to take a swim.
If you have
luck and patience, it is probable that you see one of the species
that inhabit this park, among those that are highlighted are the
culpeo
fox (Dusicyon culpaeus), the condor,
the tagua
(ret gartered coot), the pato real (Chiloe wigeon) and the chucao.
Not to forget...
The Huerquehue
National Park was created 35 years ago with the purpose to protect
an area with grand scenic beauty, although it is certain the most
known sectors of Huerquehue are in the Tinquilco lake and the Quinchol
hills, in more difficult to access areas you will find the lagoons
of equal or even more beauty that are mentioned: Huerquehue, Los
Patos, Seca Abutarda, Pehuén and Los Cóndores.
When you visit
the park don't forget that your are in a protected area, where hunting,
extracting, cutting or uprooting wild flora is strictly prohibited
and fishing is only permitted with adequate permits. Camping is
only permitted in established areas, through away rubbish in waste
cans and do not walk outside the footpaths, this way you can enjoy
your visit to the park and contribute in maintaining a fragile ecosystem.
 For
more information click here
Text
G. Salinas
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