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National Parks and Reserves in Ecuador
(page 5 of 10)
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Cotopaxi National
Park
This park is located within three provinces: Cotopaxi, Napo
and Pichincha. It covers 33,393 hectares and is the park that has
the largest number of volcanoes in Ecuador: Quilindaña, Rumiñahui,
Antisana and Cotopaxi.
In regards to the plant life, there are almost 200 species of plants
that can be divided into the flora of the forest and of the grasslands
of the tundra. Here we find animals like bears, rabbits, foxes, deer,
goats and tapir. The Cotopaxi volcano dominates the region along with
Rumiñahui, creating a sandy volcanic soil. In native language,
Cotopaxi means "neck of the moon". The lake Limpiopungo is located
on the slopes of the mountain and is a beautiful place, accessible
for visits and camping.
The national recreational area "El Boliche" is located in the province
of Cotopaxi and is an area of paramo alongside Cotopaxi volcano. The
Boliche Region has easy access, you can get there by train or from
the Pan-American Highway. Within the area of 227 hectares, pine trees
were planted in 1928 that now make up a forest that has adapted to
the cold highlands. Here we can also find many species of flowers
typical to the flora of the tundra as well as species native to the
paramo like the llama, the deer and some birds like the caracara and
hawks.
Illinizas National
Park
The Reserve is located in the provinces of Cotopaxi and Pichincha
and has an area of 149,900 ha that ranges between 800 and 5,265 m.
It is very important because it provides the water for the rivers
of Toachi and Esmeraldas. On the two mountains, Illiniza North and
South, you can practice mountain climbing. These two peaks along with
the Corazon volcano form the highland section of the reserve. The
volcano of Quilotoa holds a beautiful lake in its crater.
Within the reserve is a wildlife refuge that is mostly a forest called
Zarapullo. In this forest is a unique flora that unfortunately has
been destroyed in other areas of the park because of agricultural
and cattle activity.
The reserve also contains a great cultural history and archeological
remains have been found from times before the Incas.
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