Queulat National Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Queulat National Park
iucn_category = II

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caption = The white dot is the location of Coyhaique
base_width = 160
locator_x = 121
locator_y = 48
location = Aisén Region, Chile
nearest_city = Puerto Puyuhuapi
lat_degrees = 44
lat_minutes = 25
lat_seconds = 0
lat_direction = S
long_degrees = 72
long_minutes = 22
long_seconds = 0
long_direction = W
area = 1,541 km²
established = 1983
visitation_num = 6,195
visitation_year = 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 square kilometers of glacier-capped mountains and virgin evergreen forests.

History

In 1766, the Jesuit Father José García Alsue explored the area searching for the City of the Caesars.

Park geography

Local relief is dominated by the Patagonian Andes, with some elevations greater than 2000 m 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 long. The largest glaciated area is Queulat ice cap, which encompasses about 80 km² and contains park's centerpiece, the Queulat Hanging Glacier. This ice cap is centered at coord|44|25|S|72|25|W, and is at an elevation of 1,889 m. The other ice cap covers an area of approximately 40 km² and is centered at an unnamed summit at coord|44|30|S|72|19|W, at an elevation of 2,255 m.cite web |title=P 1386-I Chile and Argentina - Wet Andes: Tinguiririca Pass - Puerto Aisen|url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/p1386i/chile-arg/wet/wet.html|author=USGS|accessdate=2006-10-31] 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"). cite web
url=http://www.sernatur.cl/Areas_Silvestres/Aisen/Aisen.html
title= Areas Silvestres
work= Región de Aisén
publisher= Sernatur
accessdate=2006-10-30]

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 inches) of precipitation annually.cite web
url=http://www.exploramagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=44
title= On Green
work= Queulat National Park
publisher= Explora Magazine
accessdate=2006-10-30] In this wet environment typical trees include coihue and tepa. The understory vegetation is comprised 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.

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").

References