This park was created in 1970 in the region Putre. It belongs to the area Conaf and covers 137 883 hectares of the foothills of the Highlands and the North-eastern tip of the Tarapaca region.
The main task of the Lauca National Park is to protect its rich fauna, since almost a third of bird species of the country lives here and, moreover, it is the natural area of Viscacha, Guanaco and Vicunas. The camels graze in the wetlands, which is represented by a vegetation of dwarf plants growing in a flat and marshy area. Within the park is the beautiful lake Chungará, the destination of those who come into the Plateau to take a hot bath in the hot springs of Las Cuevas.
WEATHER
In the area there is the summer rain and snow in winter. The climate is mostly dry with 280 mm average annual rainfall and average temperatures between 12 ° C and 20 ° C during the day and -3 ° C to -10 ° C at night.
VOLCANOES
The volcano Parinacota with a height of 6342 m; Pomerape with 6282 m, Guallarite with 6060 m and Acotango with 6050 m altitude.
FLORA
In the Andean foothills at an altitude 3200-3800 m, there are low shrubs on the slopes that represent the typical vegetation of the sector. In the canyons and hillsides can be found Queñoa and forests in the highlands (3,800 m) consisting of two types of grassland, the dry and the wet one. Some of the species here are: Chastudo, Guacaya, Tuna, Perro, Puscaya, Llareta, Queñoa, Straw, Tola, Chilca, Bofedal and Hachacoma.
FAUNA
Birds and mammals are, without doubt, one of the most important animals of the National Parks in terms of its quantity, variety and ease of observation. There are over 130 different species of birds and the greatest diversity can be seen here in the national park of Chile. The most typical animals are: Guanaco, Vicuna, Llama, Alpaca, Andean deer, Cougars, Viscacha, Ostrich, Partridge Puna, Huairavo, Chilean flamingo, Guallata, Juarjual Duck, Jergon Duck, Puna Duck, Condors and Foxes.
