Queulat National Park
Queulat National Park
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Location | Aisén Region, Chile |
| Nearest city | Puerto Puyuhuapi |
| Coordinates | 44°25′0″S 72°22′0″W / 44.416667°S 72.366667°WCoordinates: 44°25′0″S 72°22′0″W / 44.416667°S 72.366667°W |
| Area | 1,541 km2 (595 sq mi) |
| Established | 1983 |
| Visitors | 6,195 (in 2004) |
| Governing body | Corporación Nacional Forestal |
Queulat National Park is a national park of Chile located in the Aisén Region. The park is bordered by the Cisnes River on the south side and is neighbor to Lago Rosselot National Reserve. It contains 1,541 km2 (595 sq mi) of glacier-capped mountains and virgin evergreen forests.
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[edit] History
In 1766, the Jesuit Father José García Alsue explored the area searching for the City of the Caesars.
[edit] Park geography
Local relief is dominated by the Patagonian Andes, with some elevations greater than 2,000 m (6,562 ft) above sea level. A portion of the Puyuhuapi Volcanic Group form part of the park, specifically the area south of the Lake Risopatrón. The park comprises two small ice fields, with glaciers of up to 12 km (7 mi) long. The largest glaciated area is Queulat ice cap, which encompasses about 80 km2 (31 sq mi) and contains park's centerpiece, the Queulat Hanging Glacier. This ice cap is centered at 44°25′S 72°25′W / 44.417°S 72.417°W, and is at an elevation of 1,889 m (6,198 ft). The other ice cap covers an area of approximately 40 km2 (15 sq mi) and is centered at an unnamed summit at 44°30′S 72°19′W / 44.5°S 72.317°W, at an elevation of 2,255 m (7,398 ft).[1] The main ice cap borders the northernmost part of the Puyuhuapi Channel called Ventisquero Sound.
Other attractions in the park are the Queulat Sound, Father García and The Cóndor Falls, and Cat's Stone (Piedra del Gato).
[edit] Flora
A characteristic feature of this park is the presence of Valdivian temperate rain forests. Various portions of the park receive up to 4,000 mm (157 in) of precipitation annually.[2] In this wet environment typical trees include coihue and tepa. The understory vegetation consists of species such as tepú, quila, chilco and nalca (a plant with enormous leaves). The Carretera Austral runs through the middle of the park and includes a sector of hairpin turns (Cuesta Queulat), a place where it is possible to appreciate vegetation changes due to differences of elevation.
[edit] Fauna
Between the South and North Mountain pass, there are different fauna like Pudú, Kodkod, Chucao Tapaculo, Hummingbird, Chilean Pigeon, Magellanic Woodpecker, Black-throated Huet-huet and Thorn-tailed Rayadito. In the near-shore environment fauna includes Magellan Goose, Southern River Otter, Coypu, Chiloe Wigeon, Yellow-billed Pintail, Red Shoveler, Flying Steamer Duck, Rosybill, Red-gartered Coot, Ringed Kingfisher, Great Egret, White-necked Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Torrent Duck, Sedge Wren, Chilean Flicker, Black-necked Swan and four eyes toad (Pleurodema thaul).[2]
[edit] References
- ^ USGS. "P 1386-I Chile and Argentina - Wet Andes: Tinguiririca Pass - Puerto Aisen". http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/p1386i/chile-arg/wet/wet.html. Retrieved 2006-10-31.
- ^ a b "On Green". Queulat National Park. Explora Magazine. http://www.exploramagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=44. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
