Ampay National Sanctuary

Description

Ampay National Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located at the base of Mount Ampay, north of the city of Abancay, Peru. Created in 1987, it is located in the department of Apurimac. It is 36.35 square kilometres in size and is intended to protect several endangered plant species, such as Intimpa or Romerillo (Podocarpus glometatus), as well as the protection of the basin of the Pachachaca River.

The Ampay National Sanctuary was established on the 23rd of July in 1987, by means of Supreme Decree # 042-87-AG. It owes its name to the snow covered Ampay that guards the city of Abancay and is also the name of the forests that cover the neighboring hills.

It is located in the district of Apurimac, province of Abancay, district of Tamburco. It has a surface area of 36,355 hectares.

As far as its wild fauna, there are mammals like the Andean fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus), the deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the vizcacha (Lagidium peruanum), the guemal (Hippocamelus antisensis) and birds like the Andean gull (Larus serranus) and the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus).

The flora is characterized by the intimpa tree (Podocarpus glomeratus) which grows in smears forming forests upon the slopes of the mountains. The presence of vegetation in high altitudes gives rise to scenery of great beauty, that contrast with perpetual snowfall on the peaks and with the aridity of the surrounding hills. Thus we can find beautiful locations sprinkled with gigantic chochos (Lupinus sp.) with blue flowers and herbs with yellow flowers known as Calceolaria sp., as well as various species of orchids.

The sanctuary houses two lagoons, the most spectacular is the Uspaccocha Lagoon, which appears to be a gigantic crater. The snow covered peaks of Ampay reflect in its waters. The principal objective of Ampay National Sanctuary is to protect the Intimpa estate forest which is home to the wild fauna and the two principal lagoons.