- The 23 main natural parks of the Andean region
- 1- Iguaque
- 2- Los Nevados
- 3- Paramillo
- 4- The Orchids
- 5- Farallones de Cali
- 6- Munchique
- 7- The Beautiful
- 8- Puracé
- 9- Nevado del Huila
- 10- Jungle of Florence
- 11- Chicamocha
- 12- Guácharos
- 13- Cordillera de los Picachos
- 14- Chingaza
- 15- Sumapaz
- 16- San Rafael Fusagasugá
- 17- Cocuy
- 18- Páramo de Pisba
- 19- Serranía de los Yariguíes
- 20- Mom
- 21- Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area
- 22- Guanentá Alto Río Fonce Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
- 23- Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
- References
The natural parks of the Andean region of Colombia are numerous. The largest number of natural parks in Colombia is located in this region. Some of these are Iguague, Los Nevados and Paramillo, among others.
The Andean region is made up of three northern branches of the Andes. The Western, Central and Eastern mountain ranges cross the territory from southwest to northeast.
These mountain ranges form numerous valleys, canyons and plateaus, and give rise to the course of rivers such as the Cauca and the Magdalena.
The three mountain ranges have volcanic peaks, more than 4000 meters high. Many of these volcanoes are active and have caused destruction in the past.
The 23 main natural parks of the Andean region
1- Iguaque
It has an area of 6750 hectares, between moorland and Andean forest. It is located in the Eastern mountain range, in the department of Boyacá.
2- Los Nevados
It was created with the purpose of conserving important ecosystems worldwide.
It includes three of the glaciers in the country: the Nevado de El Ruiz glacier, the Nevado del Tolima and the Nevado de Santa Isabel glacier.
3- Paramillo
It is located in the north of the Western Cordillera. It has diverse ecosystems, such as Andean paramo, jungle and Andean forest.
4- The Orchids
It is located to the west of the Western Cordillera and its main ecosystem is the humid forest.
5- Farallones de Cali
It is one of the oldest protected areas in Colombia. It is one of the richest in fauna and is located in the Western mountain range.
6- Munchique
With an area of 44,000 hectares, it has a climate suitable for a very rich flora and fauna. It is located in the Western Cordillera.
7- The Beautiful
It is located in the Central mountain range, with warm and cold thermal floors. The ecosystems it has are paramo, sub-paramo and Andean forests.
8- Puracé
Located in the Central mountain range, it contains the most active volcano in Colombia: the Puracé.
9- Nevado del Huila
The snowy volcano of Huila is the highest in the Central mountain range. In 2007 it had an eruption causing much destruction.
10- Jungle of Florence
It is located in the Central mountain range. Its ecosystems are pre-montane, montane, pre-montane pluvial and lower montane pluvial rain forests.
11- Chicamocha
It is located in the Eastern mountain range. It is one of the last to be created and one of the main ecotourism spots in Colombia.
12- Guácharos
It is the oldest reserve in Colombia, located in the Central mountain range.
13- Cordillera de los Picachos
It is located in the Eastern mountain range. Its ecosystems are Andean páramo, jungle and mountain forest.
14- Chingaza
Located in the Eastern mountain range. It contains various climates: warm, temperate, cold, and moor.
15- Sumapaz
It is located in the Eastern mountain range. It covers 154 thousand hectares and its highest peak is the Nevado del Sumapaz, 4306 meters high.
16- San Rafael Fusagasugá
Located in the Eastern Cordillera, it has 600 hectares of native forest, swamps and wetlands.
17- Cocuy
It is located in the Eastern Cordillera and has 306 thousand hectares. The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy has the largest glacier in Colombia.
18- Páramo de Pisba
It is located in the Eastern mountain range. It has mountain ecosystems, cloud forest and páramo.
19- Serranía de los Yariguíes
It is located in the Eastern Cordillera and covers 500 thousand hectares. Almost 40% belongs to primary forest, 26% to crops and the rest to grasslands.
20- Mom
It is located in the Eastern mountain range. It has four natural environments: tropical humid forest, sub-Andean forest, Andean forest and cloud forest and páramo.
21- Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area
It is a small reserve of 6 km². It is located in the Eastern Cordillera, between 1450 and 2100 meters above sea level.
22- Guanentá Alto Río Fonce Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
It is located in the Eastern mountain range. Its ecosystems are Andean forest, high Andean forest and páramo.
23- Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
It is located in the Central mountain range. It is made up of a humid Andean jungle.
References
- "Andean Region" in National Natural Parks of Colombia. Recovered in October 2017 from National Natural Parks of Colombia in: parquenacionales.gov.co
- «Natural parks of the Andean Region» in National Parks of Colombia. Recovered in October 2017 from National Parks of Colombia at: sites.google.com
- "Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary" in Wikipedia. Retrieved in October 2017 from Wikipedia at: es.wikipedia.org
- «National Natural Parks» in the Colombian Andean Region. Recovered in October 2017 from the Colombian Andean Region at: regnandina.wordpress.com
- «Natural Parks of the Andean Region» in Andean Region. Recovered in October 2017 from the Andean Region at: trabajoregionandina.blogspot.com.ar
- "Andean Region" in Colombia (September 2012). Recovered in October 2017 from Colombia at: colombia.co