Talampaya National Park
Talampaya is a national park in Argentina, located in the province of La Rioja. Back in 1975, a reserve was created on this territory of 2150 km2, and in 1997 it received the status of a national park. It was founded to preserve the territory for archaeological and paleontological excavations. In 2000, the park became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Talampaya Park lies in a valley among mountain ranges, and rain and wind have worked on its topography for millions of years. Showers occur in this area in the summer, and strong winds blow in spring. The maximum temperature in the park reaches +50 ºC, and the minimum -9ºC.
Archaeological excavations in the park
In the national park, on the rocks and large boulders you can find drawings of animals and people - this gives the area mystery and uniqueness. There are especially many strange stones in a place called "The Lost City". Archaeological monuments were discovered at the site of the dried-up bed of the Talampaya River, indicating that dinosaurs lived here millions of years ago. Although the fossils found are in many ways inferior to the remains found in Ischigualasto, nevertheless, the local nature makes up for this deficiency. The Talampaya gorge, whose stone walls rise to a height of 143 meters, will be of no less interest.
The Park has a botanical garden, which contains the rarest plants of this territory. The vegetation in Talampaya is dominated by shrubs and cacti. Trees can be seen mainly near river banks. Among the vegetation there are many species that cannot be found anywhere else.
Fauna of Talampaya Park
A large number of guanacos roam around Talampaya Park. They belong to the camelid family and in appearance resemble a cross between a deer and an antelope with a long neck. Also worth noting is the Patagonian hare or Patagonian pig. The skin of this hare is different - it is gray-black on top and white underneath. In addition to them, foxes and Andean condors are often found in the park. The condor is one of the largest birds in the Western Hemisphere, resembling a giant vulture with shiny black feathers, a collar of white feathers around the neck, and broad white edges on the wings.
To preserve the splendor of Talampaya Park in its original form, the park administration has restricted access to the park. Guests are welcomed here with pleasure, but they can only walk with experienced guides. Before the excursion, you must take a supply of water with you, since there are no suitable drinking sources in the park.
