On August 24, 2020, on the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of National Parks, President Sebastian Piñera announced the creation of two new protected areas: Salar del Huasco in the Tarapaca Region and Rio Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region.
"Today, in the midst of so many threats against our nature and lives, we have to 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," said the Head of State.
Chile stands out for being at the forefront in the protection of its natural heritage, a significant percentage of its land and maritime territory is protected under some category of conservation.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
This true paradise for the animals that inhabit it, just 2 hours from the city of Iquique, has an area of 110,962.66 hectares and is located in the commune of Pica, Province of Tamarugal, Tarapaca region. Its salt flat is located in the center of two ranges that go 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 for being the nesting area for the three species of Flamingos that inhabit Chile (Chilean, Andean and James or small Andean Flamingo), in addition to the presence of Huallatas (Andean Goose), Andean Gulls, Suris (Darwin's rhea) and Ducks). In this beautiful natural setting, it is also possible to find the presence of various mammals, among them the Vicuñas and the Andean cat.
The place also has a high cultural value, which is evidenced by the archaeological remains, ceremonial sites and the living heritage represented by the small families that continue with their ancestral traditions and customs.
On the other hand, the history of the formation of the salt flat is captivating. It belongs to the remains of an ancient lake from the Pleistocene period that covered the southern regions of Peru with Lake Titicaca, up to the Antofagasta region of Chile. Successive changes in the climate, caused the lake to decrease, until only this wetland that characterizes the national park remained. Like all protected areas in Chile, Salar de Huasco will be 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
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
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
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
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
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
This park is located at a high altitude, on the border of Chile with Bolivia, the nearest major city is Iquique, 175 km to the west.
The recommended road to access the salt flat is from Pozo Almonte taking route A-651, on the way to Collahuasi. It is also possible to get to Huasco from the town of Pica by Cocha Resbaladero oasis, later taking the A-685.
The recommended road to access the salt flat is from Pozo Almonte taking route A-651, on the way to Collahuasi. It is also possible to get to Huasco from the town of Pica by Cocha Resbaladero oasis, later taking the A-685.