Salar del Huasco National Park
LocationTarapacá Region, Chile
Coordinates20°18′S 68°50′W / 20.300°S 68.833°W / -20.300; -68.833
Area1,100.49 km2 (424.90 sq mi)
DesignationRamsar Site (1996), National Park (2023)[1]
Established2023
Official nameSalar del Huasco
Designated2 December 1996
Reference no.874[2]

Salar del Huasco is a salt flat dotted with ponds and salt marshes, and seasonally partially covered with water, in northern Chile. It is the centerpiece of the recently created Salar del Huasco National Park and was designated Ramsar Site 874 on 2 December 1996.[3] The area has a significant population of flamingos.[3]

The salt flat is probably bordered by a fault on its western side, and a river delta forms much of its northern edge; it is now crisscrossed by stream channels. In the Pleistocene the salt flat was covered by a lake that was identified through its clay and diatomite sediments and which has left well preserved shorelines and terraces.[4]

Flora and fauna

The lagoon and surrounding area are in the Central Andean dry puna ecoregion.[5]

The lagoon is home to numerous aquatic birds, including Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis), Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus), James's flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi), Andean goose (Chloephaga melanoptera), Andean gull (Chroicocephalus serranus), and ducks. Terrestrial wildlife living around the lagoon include the lesser rhea (Rhea pennata), vicuña (Lama vicugna), culpeo or Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus), and tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sp.).[1]

Salar del Huasco National Park

Salar del Huasco National Park was created in 2023. It has an area of 1100.49 km2. It is centered on the Salar del Huasco, and includes two mountains exceeding 4,500 meters elevation. It was created to protect the salt flat's flora and fauna and the high Andean landscape around it.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Salar del Huasco obtiene categoría de parque nacional". CONAF. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Salar del Huasco". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. 1 2 "The Annotated Ramsar List: Chile". Ramsar. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  4. ↑ Stoertz, George E.; Ericksen, George Edward (1974). "Geology of salars in Northern Chile". Professional Paper. doi:10.3133/pp811. ISSN 2330-7102.
  5. ↑ Salar del Huasco. DOPA Explorer. Accessed 26 April 2023


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