VISTA - SOUTH AMERICA PART THREE

21. Conguillío National Park (Chile)

Looking out over Lago Conguillío, Conguillío National Park, Chile. [ Photo by Sarah and Iain / CC BY 2.0 ]

Conguillío National Park is located in the Andes, in the provinces of Cautín and Malleco, in the Araucanía Region of Chile. Its name derives from the Mapuche word for "water with Araucaria seeds". This national park covers about 608 square kilometers. Among the attractions in the park are the Llaima volcano, Sierra Nevada and wild landscapes characterized by islands of vegetation completely surrounded by vast areas of basaltic to andesitic lava flows. Extensive forests, formed mainly by Araucarias and Nothofagus, and lagoons increase the scenic beauty of the park. It is also known as Los Paraguas (The Umbrellas), due to the shape of the Monkey Puzzle trees. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

22. Corcovado National Park (Chile)

La costanera de Quellon [ Photo by Bryan Freeman / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Corcovado National Park is an 726,000-acre (2,940 km2) preserved area of Valdivian temperate rainforest, high peaks, alpine lakes, and rivers in Chile's Los Lagos Region. This coastal park borders the same name to the west and includes the iconic volcanoes Corcovado and Yanteles. This preserved area has no public access infrastructure. Corcovado National Park represents an innovative joint public/ private conservation effort. While most of the park's area was previously federal land, mostly under the jurisdiction of the Chilean Armed Forces, the 1994 purchase of a key 208,000-acre (840 km2) parcel by the Conservation Land Trust and U.S. philanthropist Peter Buckley sparked the effort to transform this area into a national park. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

23. Huerquehue National Park (Chile)

Looking northwest in Huerquehue National Park (Parque Nacional Huerquehue), which is northeast of Pucón, Chile. [ Photo by Brian Dell / public domain ]

Huerquehue National Park is located in the Andes, in the Araucanía Region of Chile, east of Caburgua Lake. The park encompasses 125 square kilometres of mountainous terrain and has an elevation range from 720 to 2,000 m asl. One of the most noteworthy features of Huerquehue NP are its millenarian forests of Araucarias, which are the perfect backdrop for the small lakes and ponds that dot the park. Tinquilco Lake lies in the lower portion of this protected area. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

24. Lauca National Park (Chile)

Chungará Lake and Nevado Sajama [ Photo by Luca Galuzzi - www.galuzzi.it / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Lauca National Park is located in Chile's far north, in the Andean range. It encompasses an area of 1,379 km² of altiplano and mountains, the latter consisting mainly of enormous volcanoes. Las Vicuñas National Reserve is its neighbour to the south. Both protected areas, along with Salar de Surire Natural Monument, form Lauca Biosphere Reserve. The park borders Sajama National Park in Bolivia. One of the main attractions of the park is the small lacustrine area formed by Chungará and Cotacotani lakes, which lies at the foothills of the Nevados de Payachata. Other majestic volcanoes forming part of the national park are the Guallatiri and the Acotango. Lauca features include archaeological sites, lava fields and volcanic calderas. Within the park is located the town of Parinacota with its colonial church. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

25. Nevado Tres Cruces National Park (Chile)

Laguna Santa Rosa, Nevado Tres Cruces National Park, Chile. [ Photo by Marycunga Salar / CC BY 2.0 ]

Located in the Atacama Region of Chile at 93.2 miles from Copiapó. Nevado Tres Cruces National Parkincludes Laguna Santa Rosa, Laguna del Negro Francisco, and a part of the Salar de Maricunga. The park is divided into two zones, the northern zone encompasing the southern portion of Salar de Maricunga and Laguna Santa Rosa, and the southern area the Laguna del Negro Francisco. The park is named after Nevado Tres Cruces, which dominates the landscape of the area. The Nevado Tres Cruces National Park is managed by CONAF, which offers two refuges in the area: one at the south of Negro Francisco Lagoon and other at the west of Santa Rosa Lagoon. The administration charges a fee to enter the park which is $2.000 CLP and $500 CLP for children.The park is open from October to April from 8 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

26. Pan de Azúcar National Park (Chile)

Pan de Azúcar National Park [ Photo by aaronbflickr / CC BY 2.0 ]

Pan de Azúcar National Park is a national park of Chile. The park straddles the border between the Antofagasta Region and the Atacama Region. Its name, Parque Nacional Pan de Azúcar, means "sugar loaf". The park is located 30 km north of Chañaral and 180 km north of Copiapó. It was founded in 1985 and has an extension of 437.54 km² (including 1.1 km² of insular terrain). It is importance derives from the relative diversity of species. A small gravel road leads along the ocean to the park, passing Playa Amarilla (yellow beach) and Playa Blanca (white beach) on the way. Many cactus species can be observed along the road. Some people make the tour by bicycle and spend the night at Caleta Pan de Azúcar or camp on the mountains (the night can get uncomfortably cold because of the mist). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

27. Puyehue National Park (Chile)

Antillanca ski resort [ Photo by Felipe Barriga Richards / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Puyehue National Park is located in the Andes, in Los Ríos and Los Lagos Region of Chile. It covers 1,068 km2 (412 sq mi). The Route 215 passes through the park. It connects with the Argentine Route 231 via Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass. Its flora and fauna in the lower parts is that one of Valdivian temperate rain forest and is similar to that of its southern neighbor, the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. The rivers Gol-Gol and Chanleufú flow through the park, whereas the major lakes within it are Gris and Constancia. The park features numerous waterfalls. Among them is 'Salto del Indio. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

28. Queulat National Park (Chile)

Ventisquero [ Photo by rgomez74 / CC BY 2.0 ]

Queulat National Park is a national park of Chile located in the Aisén Region. The park is bordered by the Cisnes River on the south side and is neighbor to Lago Rosselot National Reserve. It contains 1,541 km2 (595 sq mi) of glacier-capped mountains and virgin evergreen forests. Local relief is dominated by the Patagonian Andes, with some elevations greater than 2,000 m (6,562 ft) above sea level. A portion of the Puyuhuapi Volcanic Group form part of the park, specifically the area south of the Lake Risopatrón. The park comprises two small ice fields, with glaciers of up to 12 km (7 mi) long. The largest glaciated area is Queulat ice cap, which encompasses about 80 km2 (31 sq mi) and contains park's centerpiece, the Queulat Hanging Glacier. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

29. Rapa Nui National Park (Chile)

Easter Island, crater Rano Kao, 1997 [ Photo by ProfessorX / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The early history involves human settlement roughly one millennium before present. Subsequent human overpopulation and resultant deforestation led to collapse of the human society. Archaeological evidence of the earlier habitation consists of the moai themselves as well as the pollen and fossil records. Through these records, scientists have come to understand the role of a now extinct Rapa Nui Palm, which offered food, fuel and transport for the early settlers. Chile first declared the island a National Park in 1935, and on 22 March 1996 UNESCO designated the island a World Heritage Site. Park boundaries have since varied on several occasions, to return land to the islanders. (based on a wikipediaarticle / cc by-sa)

30. Tolhuaca National Park (Chile)

Laguna Verde, Tolhuaca National Park, Chile. [ Photo by hozdiamant / CC BY 2.0 ]

Tolhuaca National Park encompasses part of the forested lower western spurs and foothills of the Andes of the Araucanía Region of southern Chile. Adjoining the park to the north is Malleco National Reserve. The park has an elevation of 700 m asl at its western end and 1,821 m asl at its eastern end. It includes small lakes and numerous ponds. Among them are the Laguna Malleco and the Laguna Verde. The Malleco River's source is located within the park and Tolhuaca volcano is situated in the vicinity of the park. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)