Médanos de Coro National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Médanos de Coro National Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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Médanos de Coro
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 Médanos de Coro National Park
Location in Venezuela
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| Location | Venezuela |
| Nearest city | Santa Ana de Coro |
| Area | 91 km2 (35 sq mi) |
| Established | 6 February 1974 |
| Governing body | Instituto Nacional de Parques (INPARQUES) |
Médanos de Coro National Park (Parque Nacional Los Médanos de Coro) is a special national park in Venezuela. It's found in the state of Falcón, close to the city of Coro. This amazing park was created in 1974 to protect its unique natural features. You can easily get there by bus or taxi from Coro.
The park is part of a dry, desert-like area called the Paraguana xeric scrub. It sits on a narrow strip of land called the Médanos Isthmus. The park covers about 91 square kilometers (about 35 square miles) of desert and coastal areas, including salty wetlands.
The park has three main parts:
- A flat area formed by a river delta.
- A windy area with different types of sand dunes.
- A coastal area with mangrove swamps.
The most famous part of the park is its huge sand dunes, known as the Médanos. These dunes stretch for about 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide and 30 kilometers (18 miles) long. They can reach up to 40 meters (130 feet) high! The strong winds constantly change their shape, making them a living landscape.
It doesn't rain much here. However, in December 1999, there were very heavy floods in Venezuela. During these floods, four lagoons formed right in the middle of the dunes. Park rangers had never seen anything like it before!
Plants and Animals
The plants in the park are mostly thorny shrubs that can survive in dry conditions.
The park is also an Important Bird Area, meaning it's a key place for birds. About 21 different bird species live here, including the colorful Yellow-shouldered amazon parrot.
Other animals are not very common, but you might spot lizards, rabbits, anteaters, and foxes. A fun way to explore the dunes is by riding a camel. These camels were brought to the park many years ago.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Los Médanos de Coro para niños
