Lauca National Park
Lauca - Chile National Park, located in the Arica-i-Parinacota region, 1379 km2. The park is known for its small lake zone formed by Lake Chungar and adjacent lakes. Together with the neighboring Las Vicunyas National Park, it forms the Lauka Biosphere Reserve. Nearby is the Bolivian Sakhama National Park.
In the park you can also meet the volcanoes of Gualatiri and Akotango, more than 6 km high, as well as other volcanoes, craters, lava fields. The most picturesque place of the park is Lake Chungara, which occupied an area of 21.5 km2 at an altitude of almost 4500 meters. He is surrounded by extinct volcanoes with snow caps, which gives the area its twist.
The first people settled in the Lauka National Park 9000 years ago, archaeological finds found in the caves of Chakus Inkaiko Las Kueva and Las Kuevaas serve as evidence of this. In the park they found the bonfires of the first people, household items. The indigenous inhabitants of these places are the Aymara Indian tribe, which has lived here for centuries and has preserved the traditions of the great-grandfathers. They mainly trade in livestock and often organize pagan celebrations. The villages of Parinacota and Chukuyo, the first built from volcanic rock in the 17th century, and the second is interesting for its dwellings made of unburned bricks with a straw roof.
Lake Lauka Park was chosen by pink flamingos, of course not such huge flocks on Lake Nakuru or Manyara. In addition to flamingos, you can meet llamas, taruka, pumu, alpaca, guanaco from birds, typical representatives are Andean geese, ibis, giant bales, Andean condoras, silver toadles. The flora of Lauka National Park has been well adapted to the harsh climate, in total over 400 diverse plants grow in Laika Park.
Mountainous terrain creates a great influence on the climate. In summer, in Lauka Park, the temperature is at 12-20 ° C, in the winter 0-5 ° C. It is best to go here in September - December or March - May, when it is dry and warm. The park’s tourist center is located 20 km from Lake Chungara in a place called Parinacote, here you can get all the necessary information. Near Lake Chungara, places for recreation were equipped. In your free time, you can do fishing, hiking, mountain climbing.
