Salar del Huasco, new National Park in Chile

Salar del Huasco, new Chilean Nature Reserve.

On August 24, 2020, in celebration of the International Day of National Parks, President Sebastián Piñera announced the creation of two new protected areas: Salar del Huasco in the Tarapacá Region and Río Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region.

"Today, in the midst of so many threats against our nature and lives, we must make a moral commitment to care for and protect our natural world," said President Piñera. "The nature we have in our country is a privilege," added the Head of State..

Chile stands out for being at the forefront of natural heritage protection, with a significant percentage of its land and maritime territory protected under various conservation categories.

Main Features of Salar del Huasco

El Parque Nacional Salar del Huasco tiene una extensión de 110.962,66 hectáreas y se ubica en la comuna de Pica, Provincia del Tamarugal. Su salar se encuentra en el centro de dos sierras que van de norte a sur y que se levantan por sobre los 4.500 metros de altura.

Fuente: Emol.com - https://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2010/06/08/417861/salar-de-huasco-se-convierte-en-nuevo-parque-nacional-de-la-region-de-tarapaca.html

Parque Nacional Salar del Huasco tiene una extensión de 110.962,66 hectáreas y se ubica en la comuna de Pica, Provincia del Tamarugal. Su salar se encuentra en el centro de dos sierras que van de norte a sur y que se levantan por sobre los 4.500 metros de altura

Fuente: Emol.com - https://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2010/06/08/417861/salar-de-huasco-se-convierte-en-nuevo-parque-nacional-de-la-region-de-tarapaca.html

A view of Parque Nacional Salar del Huasco

This true paradise for the animals that inhabit it, located just 2 hours from the city of Iquique, covers an area of 110,962.66 hectares and is situated in the Municipality of Pica, Province of Tamarugal, Tarapacá Region. Its salt flat is located between two mountain ranges that run from north to south and rise over 4,500 meters high.

It is a wetland of great importance that presents a diversity of species of flora and fauna that have protection category due to being with conservation problems, characteristics that have allowed this territory to have international protection by being declared a Ramsar Site, in addition to a Sanctuary of Nature and, from this Monday, a National Park.

Salar del Huasco also stands out as a nesting area for the three species of flamingos that inhabit Chile (Chilean, Andean, and James or Puna Flamingo), in addition to the presence of Huallatas (Andean Goose), Andean Gulls, Suris (Darwin's rhea), and various species of ducks. In this beautiful natural setting, it is also possible to find various mammals, including vicuñas and the Andean cat.

The place also has high cultural value, evidenced by archaeological remains, ceremonial sites, and the living heritage represented by the small families that continue their ancestral traditions and customs.

On the other hand, the history of the salt flat's formation is captivating. It is a remnant of an ancient lake from the Pleistocene period that once covered the southern regions of Peru, including Lake Titicaca, and extended to the Antofagasta region of Chile. Successive climate changes caused the lake to shrink, leaving only the wetland that characterizes the national park. Like all protected areas in Chile, Salar de Huasco is managed by CONAF (National Forest Corporation).

El Parque Nacional Salar del Huasco tiene una extensión de 110.962,66 hectáreas y se ubica en la comuna de Pica, Provincia del Tamarugal. Su salar se encuentra en el centro de dos sierras que van de norte a sur y que se levantan por sobre los 4.500 metros de altura

Fuente: Emol.com - https://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2010/06/08/417861/salar-de-huasco-se-convierte-en-nuevo-parque-nacional-de-la-region-de-tarapaca.html

How to get there

The park is located at a high altitude on the border between Chile and Bolivia, with the nearest major city being Iquique, 175 km to the west.

The recommended route to access the salt flat is from Pozo Almonte via route A-651, on the way to Collahuasi. It is also possible to reach Huasco from the town of Pica by traveling through the Cocha Resbaladero oasis and then taking route A-685.

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