Los Flamencos Fauna And Flora Sanctuary

Description

Los Flamencos National Reserve is a nature reserve located in the commune of San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region of Chile. The reserve covers a total area of 740 km² and consists of seven separate sectors.

This area is made up of two Salt flats: Tara at 23°05′S 67°15′W / 23.083°S 67.25°W / -23.083; -67.25 and Aguas Calientes at 23°07′S 67°25′W / 23.117°S 67.417°W / -23.117; -67.417.

In 1996, Salar de Tara was designated a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. It features permanent and seasonal lakes. Among them the main one is Tara Lake, which is fed by the Zapaleri River.

Salar de Tara provides habitat for various rare and endangered species of wildlife. Mountain viscacha, Vicuña, and Pterocnemia pennata tarapacensis are endangered species. Others, such as Andean Goose, Horned Coot, Andean Gull, Puna Tinamou and the three flamingo species inhabiting in Chile, are considered vulnerable. Conservation status of Tawny Tuco-tuco and Culpeo fox is unknown.

Salar de Pujsa is a salt flat located at 23°12′S 67°32′W / 23.2°S 67.533°W / -23.2; -67.533 and northeast of Acamarachi volcano.

This area comprises the lagoons Miscanti at 23°43′S 67°46′W / 23.717°S 67.767°W / -23.717; -67.767 and Miñiques at 23°46′S 67°47′W / 23.767°S 67.783°W / -23.767; -67.783 situated at the foothills of Cerro Miscanti and the volcano Miñiques.

This portion of the reserve is home to a variety of birds, including Andean Flamingo, Chilean Flamingo, Horned Coot, Silvery Grebe, Andean Gull and Greenish Yellow Finch.

In this area is located Chaxa Lagoon at 23°19′S 68°10′W / 23.317°S 68.167°W / -23.317; -68.167, within the Salar de Atacama.

Chaxa Lagoon provides habitat for bird species. Among those are Chilean and Andean Flamingos, Andean Avocet, Speckled Teal, Crested Duck, Puna Plover, and Baird's Sandpiper.

Sistema hidrológico de Soncor (Soncor's hydrological system), like Salar de Tara, is a Ramsar site. It comprises four shallow salt lakes.

Its principal feature is a Tamarugo forest (Prosopis tamarugo).

Alacalufes | Alto Biobío | Alto Loa | Altos de Lircay | Carlos Anwandter | Cerro Castillo | China Muerta | Coihaique | El Yali | Federico Albert | Francisco Coloane | Futaleufú | Huilo-Huilo | Isla Mocha | Katalalixar | La Chimba National Reserve | Lago Carlota | Lago Cochrane | Lago Jeinimeni | Lago Las Torres | Lago Palena | Lago Peñuelas | Lago Rosselot | Laguna Parrillar | Laguna Torca | Las Chinchillas | Las Guaitecas | Las Vicuñas | Llanquihue | Los Bellotos del Melado | Los Flamencos | Los Huemules de Niblinto | Los Queules | Los Ruiles | Los Vertientes | Magallanes | Malalcahuello | Malleco | Mocho-Choshuenco | Nalcas | Ñuble | Pampa del Tamarugal | Pingüino de Humboldt | Radal Siete Tazas | Ralco | Río Blanco | Río Clarillo | Río de Los Cipreses | Río Simpson | Roblería del Cobre de Loncha | Trapananda | Valdivia | Valdivian Coastal | Villarrica | Yerba Loca