The National Park Of The Cordillera Azul

THE NATIONAL PARK OF CORDILLERA AZUL (BLUE MOUNTAIN CHAIN) IS A PRACTICALLY VIRGIN NATURAL AREA THAT PROTECTS THE LARGEST INTACT EXTENSION OF MOUNTAIN FORESTS IN THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS A GREAT BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. THE ZONE IS RICH IN ENDEMIC SPECIES; THAT IS TO SAY, SPECIES THAT DO NOT EXIST IN ANY OTHER PART OF THE WORLD.

Data:
- Location: It is located on an isolated branch of the Eastern

  Mountain Chain between the regions of Huanuco, Loreto, Ucayali

  and San Martin.
- It was declared a National Park on May 21st, 2001.
- Surface area: 1.353.190, 85 hectares.

A VIRGIN AREA
The area of transition between the Andes and the Amazonia, known as “upper jungle”, is one of the natural zones with the largest biological riches in the world. Unfortunately, it is one of the most threatened as well. The illegal tree cutting, indiscriminate hunting and fishing, the expansion of cultivated land for farming and the activity of cocaine traffickers have put in danger many ecosystems. In this context, the Cordillera Azul is a privileged area because it has stayed free of human activities. Access to the zone is very complicated and there is only one small indigenous community, the Cacataibo-Camano ethnic group, who live in the Southeastern sector of the Park, in voluntary isolation. Aside from investigators and some groups of bird watchers, the park does not receive other visitors.

INVESTIGATIONS
Although the biological riches of the Cordillera Azul has been well-known since the middle of the 20th century (the National Forest Biabo – Cordillera Azul was established in 1961), just recently in 1990 have investigations confirmed with scientific data the necessity to establish a protection regime for this area. In the year 2000, a team of Peruvian investigators and the Field Museum of Chicago, United States, carried out a fast inventory during three weeks, in which they registered 1,800 animal species and plants. The studies have continued and at the moment, it is estimated that the Park lodges up to six thousand species of plants and eight hundred types of birds. Thirty new species of birds have been found; among them, the bearded scarlet chest bird (Capita Wallace), a bird that is only found on some peaks of the Park.

FLORA
Studies of the ecological riches of the Cordillera Azul in the past few years have established different habitats and forests that shelter six thousand vegetable species, among them, a great variety of canes, lianas, shrubs, orchids, bromeliads, ferns, hepaticas, mosses and weeds. Among the most common trees found are the following: mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), cedar (Cedrela odorota), ishpingo (Amburana cearensis), the screw (Cedrelinga catenaeformis) and the garlic wood (alliodora Cordia). Also there are palms, like the tagua (Phytelephas macrocarp) and the huasai (Euterpe predator). In fact, of the 105 species of palms identified in Peru, 43 are present in this Park. Other existing species in the Park are the tangarara (poeppigiana Triplaris) (l) and the lacocona (Solanum sessiliflorum).

ECOSYSTEMS
The Park includes a quite ample range of altitudes (From 2,320 to 150 meters above sea level), which, added to the existing peculiar geological formations, have given the place a great variety of ecosystems. From studies made by ornithologists in 1996, in the basin of the river Cushabatay; from the biological inventory carried out, in the year 2000, in the basins of the rivers lPisqui and Pauya, and from the review of satellite images, it has been possible to identify in this National Park: 19 classes of habitats considered of high-priority for conservation. Among them, there are several types of forests, marshes, ponds, and lagoons.

FAUNA
Many typical species of the Amazonia are present in the Park. It has been identified: 71 species of mammals, among them, several monkeys, otorongos, pumas, eyeglass bears, sachavacas and one small squirrel that, presumably, could be a new species for the science; also, 82 species of amphibians and reptiles, of which, it is believed that nine are a new species (among them, a variety of salamander), and 93 species of fish, of which, ten could be new. The birds, like the heron, constitute a great part of the animal reaches of the Park. The Web page of the Field Museum de Chicago offers an inventory of the most representative species.

ARCHEOLOGICAL REMAINS
The human presence in the Park area has always been limited; nevertheless, four archaeological ruins found in the basin of the river Pauya demonstrate that this presence dates from pre-Hispanic times. The remains are stone buildings and posts with walls that reach four meters high. The first of these complexes was registered by the archaeologist Monica Panay, who visited the area in 1983. The other monuments were found in 1996, during a second expedition. The studies of such remains are still preliminary, but their similarities with the Gran Pajaten and Kuelap ruins make us believe that they could be associated with migrations of the Chachapoya culture (700 A.D. - 1500 A.D.), that developed in the Late Horizon period (1000 A.D. - 1450 A.D.). In other zones, as well as the Basin of the Pisqui River, they have found: utensils and pieces of ceramic, among other objects that could have been used by native Amazonian cultures.

Web pages:
- INRENA:
http://www.inrena.gob.pe/areasprotegidas/pncordilleraazul/pncaz.swf
- Field Museum (Estados Unidos)

  http://www.fleldmuseum.org/cordilleraazul

ACCESS
Within the protected area, the tourist activity is prohibited. However, there are other areas (such as places surrounding the Park where tourism is allowed) which offer several natural attractions such as lagoons, rivers and thermal waters. Also, it is possible to become familiar with the culture and gastronomy of native communities, such as the Quechuas-Lamas (San Martin), the shipibos (Ucayali and Loreto) and the cacataibos (Ucayali). It is considered that in the future this Park could be a type of springboard to better develop tourist areas in the zone for the benefit of the local communities.

The National Park Of The Huascaran

THIS PARK THAT EMBRACES THE ENTIRETY OF THE CORDILLERA BLANCA (WHITE MOUNTAIN CHAIN) IN ANCASH IS A SAMPLE OF THE GREAT BEAUTY OF OUR ANDEAN LANDSCAPES. AT THE FOOT OF THE SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS, WHICH CONFORMS INTO ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NATURAL LANDSCAPES OF THE WORLD, EXISTS A VERY IMPORTANT BIODIVERSITY; REASON WHY THIS AREA HAS BEEN DECLARED NATURAL PATRIMONY OF MANKIND.

Data:

- Location: The Park covers territory in the provinces of Huaylas,

  Yungay, Carhuaz, Huaraz, Recuay, Bolognesi, Pomabamba,

  Mariscal Luzuriaga, Huari and Asunción in the Ancash region.
- Surface area: 340.000 hectares.
- It was declared National Park on July 1st, 1975.
- It was recognized by UNESCO as the nucleus of a Bio-sphere

  Reservation (1977) and later as Natural Patrimony of Mankind

  (1985).

THE CORDILLERA BLANCA (THE WHITE MOUNTAIN CHAIN)
This chain of mountains is the highest of the Peruvian Andes and the highest in the world that includes tropical zones. Its range of altitude goes from 3,200 up to 6,768 meters above sea level, height of the southern peak of the snow-capped mountain Huascaran. Within the Park, there are 27 snow- capped mountains that surpass six thousand meters; reason why this place is very frequented by mountain climbers from all over the world. It also includes the snow-capped mountain Alpamayo (in the photo), considered the most beautiful mountain of the world. The mountains are not the only geographic feature worth mentioning in the area of the Park. There are also 663 glaciers, 269 lagoons and 41 rivers that form spaces of great scenic beauty and, simultaneously, are ideal for the practice of adventure sports and tourism in general.

THE RAIMONDI’S PUYA
This bromelia (bromeliaceous) is an unquestionable symbol of the flora of the Callejon de Huaylas. Some specimens have measured almost 12 meters high, although their average height is between six and eight meters. The Ccacara, Titanca or puya Raimondi (Puya raimondii) grows between 3,500 and 4,000 meters of height, in stony lands, where few plants of their size can be developed. It has enormous leaves with thorns in hook form, which are born on its inferior part and they project upwards. The Puya Raimondi lives about one hundred years, but it blooms only once. During its flowering process, which lasts about nine months, the plant, that usually has about four meters high, grows extremely until reaching the mentioned size (12 meters) and it is covered with flowers of a clear color. It is the most impressive process of inflorescence of the vegetable kingdom and also, it is the prelude of its death. After releasing its seeds, it dies. Unfortunately, this plant has become more and more of a rare species in the Andean plains. Within the National Park of the Huascaran, the greater concentrations of the Puya are to the south, in the area of Carpa. However, the most important forest of Puyas in our country is in another protected area: the National Sanctuary of Calipuy, with a surface area of 4,500 hectares, located within the national reserve of the same name, in La Libertad (provinces of Viru and Santiago de Chuco). Outside these places, its presence is limited.

ANTONIO RAIMONDI
[MILAN 1826-SAN PEDRO DE LLOC 1890]
Although he was born in Italy, the name of Antonio Raimondi will be always bound to our country by the value of his investigations and for being one of the first promoters of our patrimony. He was born in Milan on September 19th, 1826, and, after participating in the wars that determined Italy’s unity, he arrived to Peru on July 28th, 1850. Here, he was welcomed by another illustrious investigator, Doctor Cayetano Heredia, who put him in charge of the organization of the Natural History Museum of the School of the Independence, which soon would become the Medicine Faculty of San Fernando. In 1861, he inaugurated the professorship of Analytical Chemistry of that center of studies, which he taught until 1872.
During the forty years that he lived in Peru, he made numerous trips, in which he would come to know, first hand, the natural, historical and ethnographic riches of our country. He contributed to the knowledge of diverse fields, such as botany, zoology, anthropology, geography and archaeology. His vast interests can be summarized in a phrase: “It seems to me that I do not have eyes sufficient to see everything”.
One of the most important trips by Raimondi is the one that he made to the zones of the Callejón de Huaylas and Conchucos, in Ancash. This route allowed him to lead the first geological study of this zone, which was materialized in the book “The department of Ancash and its mineral riches” (1873). He also made a map of the region and a detailed inventory of his observations and findings. He passed away in San Pedro de Lloc, La Libertad, on October 26th, 1890.

FAUNA
The Park has registered 131 species of birds, distributed in 33 families. Among them stand out the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus), the mountain Caracará (Phalcobaenus albogularis), the Andean goose or haullata (Cholephaga melanoptera) and the little duck of the torrents (Merganetta armata) are less and less seen. The mammals that stand out are the gray deer or luicho, the taruca, the puma (in the photo) and the Andean fox. The populations of these animals have undergone, during a long time, indiscriminate hunting. Even though the zone is considered protected, firearm cartridges have been found, which is evidence that hunting is still practiced in spite of being prohibited.

THE CONDOR
This bird of majestic aspect is the most emblematic of the Andean mountain chain. To observe it when it glides by the Andean peaks generates a sensation of absolute freedom. The habitat of the Condor covers all of South America, from Mérida (Venezuela) to the Tierra del Fuego (Chile). With the extended wings it reaches a wingspan of three meters. Its feathers are black, with the exception of the external part of its wings and neck, which are white. Contrary to popular belief, the Condor is, essentially, a scavenger and not a hunting animal. Unlike the birds of prey, like the eagle, the legs of the Condor do not have the necessary strength to grasp prey and to transport it by air. In order to provide itself with food, it glides until it spots a dead animal and then it descends to eat it. The hunting has caused the reduction of the Condor’s population, but, with luck, it is even possible to witness them in flight in several places of the mountain chains, among them, the National Park of Huascaran.

ARCHEOLOGICAL REMAINS
The National Park of Huascaran lodges 33 sites of archaeological importance, of which, the majority is from pre Incan times and consists of chullpas, tombs, viewpoints, platforms, fortifications and irrigation channels. The Callejon de Huaylas was inhabited around the year 9700 B.C.., and later bloomed cultures such as the Chavin (1000 B.C. - 200 B.C.) in the period Early Horizon, and the culture Recuay (200 - 600 A.D.) in the Early Intermediate period. Additionally, this territory was also occupied by foreign cultures like the Huari and Inca. Vestiges have been left of all them, the most well known being the: Huaricoto (pre Chavin and Chavin), Auquispuio, Queyash Alto, the tomb of Jancu (Recuay culture) and Wilcahuain or Willcawain (Wari culture), among others. Chavin de Huantar is located in the Callejon de Conchucos, a few kilometers away from the Park.

Web pages:
- INC: http://www.perupatrimonio.coni/pg_huascaran.htm
- UNESCO: http://whc.unesco.org/list/333
- INRENA:
  http://www.inrena.gob.pe/areasprotegidas/pnhuascaran
- Museum Antonio Raimondi: http://www.museoraimondi.org.pe

Useful Information:
Unlike most of the national parks (mainly the ones located in the forest), this park includes zones fitted for tourism, and previous permits to enter in it are not necessary. In order to visit the Park, it is recommended to start off in Huaraz. The shortage of oxygen due to the altitude is a factor to be considered and for this reason, it is recommended first to become acclimatized if you were thinking to go to areas of higher altitude.
• There are two important places for the control of visitors: the lagoon of Llanganuco and the snow-capped mountain Pastoruri. Nevertheless, the highways allow visiting other Park zones. It is possible to do camping; practice long walks and adventure sports like canoeing and the Andean mountain climbing. Pastoruri, which is 5,200 meters high, offers the possibility of practicing skiing. The Park can be visited at any time of the year, but the climate is more benign during the dry season, from April to November. To camp, the gorges of Quilcayhuanca and Carhuascancha are the most recommended. Also, it is recommended to visit the lagoons of Llanganuco, Paron and Santa Cruz

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