Serranía de San Lucas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Serranía del San Lucas |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,700 m (8,900 ft) |
Dimensions | |
Area | 16,000 km2 (6,200 sq mi) |
Geography | |
Country | ![]() |
The Serranía de San Lucas is a large, forested mountain range in northern Colombia. It is located in the Bolívar Department and reaches high up to 2,600 meters (about 8,500 feet) above sea level. This area is a special kind of moist forest called a rainforest, full of amazing plants and animals.
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What is the Serranía de San Lucas?
The Serranía de San Lucas is a huge group of mountains covered in thick forests. It's part of a bigger natural area known as the Magdalena-Urabá moist forests. This means it gets a lot of rain, which helps a wide variety of plants and animals to grow and live there.
Nature and Wildlife
Because it's a rainforest, the Serranía de San Lucas is home to many different kinds of wildlife. You can find large groups of monkeys swinging through the trees. There are also many types of birds, making it a great place for nature lovers. The rich plant life provides food and shelter for all these creatures.
Valuable Resources and Mining
These mountains are very rich in natural resources. Deep inside the Serranía de San Lucas, there are large amounts of valuable minerals. These include gold, emeralds, nickel, and even mercury.
Because of these valuable minerals, the Colombian government has allowed mining in the area. Companies like AngloGold Ashanti have been exploring for gold and other minerals since 2004. This has sometimes caused disagreements with local people who also do small-scale mining to earn a living.
Protecting the Mountains
The Serranía de San Lucas is recognized as a 'forest reserve'. This means that many people believe it should be protected to keep its natural beauty and wildlife safe. Protecting the forests also helps keep the water sources clean for everyone.
Interestingly, a group called the ELN (a guerrilla group) also tried to protect the forests in the early 2000s. They said they wanted to protect the local water systems. This shows how important the mountains and their resources are to different groups of people.
See also
In Spanish: Serranía de San Lucas para niños