Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve

Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
Rock formations at Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve
Location of Salinas y Aguada Blanca in Peru
Location	Peru Arequipa and Moquegua
Nearest city	Arequipa
Area	3,669.36 km (1,416.75 sq mi)
Established	09 August 1979
Governing body	SERNANP
Website	Reserva Nacional Salinas y Aguada Blanca

Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve is a protected area located in the regions of Arequipa and Moquegua; Peru. The main purpose of this area is to protect the local flora, fauna and landscape formations.

History

The area was declared a national reserve on 9 August 1979 by decree N° 070-79-AA. Lake Salinas and Lake Del Indio, both located inside the reserve, were designated as Ramsar sites in 2003.

Geography

Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve is located in the provinces of Caylloma and Arequipa in the region of Arequipa; and a small part in the province of Sanchez Cerro in the region of Moquegua. It spans an area of 366,936 hectares (3,669.36 km) which covers the headwaters of important local rivers like Yura and Chili.

The landscape features high Andean plateaus dotted by lakes and meadows; and surrounded by volcanoes like Ubinas, Misti, Pichu Pichu and Chachani in the southwest and by mounts Chuccura and Huarancante in the north. Although initially declared an area with the aim to protect local camelids, flamingoes and Andean forests, it has since become a protected water source for the city of Arequipa. Precipitation carried by the eastern winds is captured by the local vegetation and stored in the lakes, meadows and soil; thus giving a valuable environmental service to the region.

The reserve is populated to some extent; most of its territory belongs to thirteen peasant communities and more than 100 private smallholders recognized by law.

Ecology

The area is representative of the puna ecosystem.

Flora

A total of 358 plant species in 155 genera and 47 families have been found in the area, mostly shrubs and herbs; only one species is a tree (Polylepis sp.) which forms pure stands. Some plants found in the reserve are: Jarava ichu, Nassella depauperata, Lepidophyllum quadrangulare, Parastrephia lepidophylla, Festuca ortophylla, Nassella mexicana, Azorella compacta, Pycnophyllum molle, Werneria paposa, Calamagrostis curvula, Baccharis buxifolia, Alchemilla pinnata, Distichia muscoides, Ranunculus flagelliformis, Myrosmodes sp., among others.

Fauna

Some mammals native to the reserve are: the llama, the alpaca, the vicuña, the guanaco, the taruca, the vizcacha, the puma, the Andean mountain cat, the colocolo and the Andean fox.

Among the birds native to the reserve are: the Andean goose, the crested duck, the Andean flamingo, James's flamingo, the Tamarugo conebill, the silvery grebe and the giant coot.

Two threatened species of amphibians, Telmatobius arequipensis and Rhinella spinulosa, inhabit the reserve.

Activities

Biking and trekking can be done in the numerous paths inside the reserve, while enjoying the landscape emmarked by the volcanoes of the area where mountaineering can be practiced. It is possible to visit volcanic and geothermal land features like the Chucura volcanic crater and the Umalaso hot springs.

References

^ "De Salinas y Aguada Blanca - Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado". www.sernanp.gob.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2016-11-19.
"Bofedales y Laguna de Salinas | Ramsar Sites Information Service". rsis.ramsar.org. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
"Laguna del Indio - Dique de los Españoles | Ramsar Sites Information Service". rsis.ramsar.org. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
^ Plan Maestro de la Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca 2006-2011 (PDF) (in Spanish). SERNANP. 2006.
Biggar, John (2005). The Andes: A Guide for Climbers. Andes. pp. 155–157. ISBN 9780953608720.

External links

v t e Protected areas of Peru
National Parks	Alto Purús Bahuaja-Sonene Cerros de Amotape Cordillera Azul Cutervo Güeppi-Sekime Huascarán Ichigkat Muja – Cordillera del Condor Manu Otishi Rio Abiseo Sierra del Divisor Tingo María Yaguas Yanachaga-Chemillén
National Sanctuaries	Ampay Calipuy Cordillera de Colán Huayllay Lagunas de Mejía Manglares de Tumbes Megantoni Pampa Hermosa Tabaconas Namballe
Historic Sanctuaries	Chacamarca Machu Picchu Pampas de Ayacucho Bosque de Pómac
National Reserves	Allpahuayo-Mishana Calipuy Junín Lachay Matsés Pacaya-Samiria Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille Paracas Pucacuro Salinas y Aguada Blanca San Fernando System of Islands, Islets and Guano Sites Tambopata Titicaca Tumbes
Wildlife Refuges	Laquipampa Pantanos de Villa Bosques Nublados de Udima
Landscape Reserves	Cotahuasi Nor Yauyos-Cochas
Communal Reserves	Amarakaeri Asháninka Chayu Nain El Sira Machiguenga Purús Tuntanain Yanesha
National Forests	Alexander von Humboldt Mariscal Cáceres Pastaza–Morona–Marañon
Protection Forests	Aledaño Bocatoma del Canal Nuevo Imperial Alto Mayo Pagaibamba Pui Pui Puquio Santa Rosa San Matías–San Carlos
Game Reserves	El Angolo Sunchubamba
Reserved Zones	Algarrobal El Moro Ancón Bosque de Zárate Khapia Chancaybaños Huayhuash Illescas Lomas de Ancón Nieva River Santiago-Comaina
Regional Conservation Areas	Choquequirao Huacachina Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Puya Raymondi - Titankayocc Huaytapallana
Private Conservation Areas	Qosqoccahuarina

16°06′08″S 71°13′08″W / 16.1021°S 71.219°W / -16.1021; -71.219

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