Serranía de los Churumbelos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Los Churumbelos Auka-Wasi |
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| Serranía de Los Churumbelos Auka-Wasi National Natural Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Los Churumbelos Auka-Wasi
Location in Colombia
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| Nearest city | Piamonte, Cauca, Colombia |
| Area | 562 km2 (217 sq mi) |
| Established | 30 August 2007 |
| Governing body | Dirección de Parques Nacionales Naturales del minambiente de Colombia |
Serranía de Los Churumbelos Auka-Wasi National Natural Park (also known as Spanish: Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de los Churumbelos Auka-Wasi) is a special protected area in Colombia. The Colombian government created this park on August 30, 2007. It is located in the southern part of Colombia, in an area called the Bota Caucana.
Scientists explored this area between 1998 and 2000. They studied the many different plants and animals living there. Their findings showed how important this mountain range is for nature. This research helped convince the government to protect this amazing place.
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Where is the Park Located?
Serranía de los Churumbelos is a mountain range that forms the very southern tip of the Eastern Cordillera. This is one of the big mountain chains that make up the Andes in Colombia.
The park is special because it sits where four different natural areas meet. These include the lowland Amazon rainforest, the Eastern and Central Andes mountains, and the drier Magdalena Valley. This mix of areas helps explain why the park has so many different kinds of plants and animals.
Discovering Life: Expeditions to the Park
The first studies of Serranía de los Churumbelos were done by teams from Colombia and the United Kingdom. These expeditions happened in 1998 and were called "Colombia '98" and "EBA Project."
Amazing Animal Discoveries
Scientists found that the mountain range is home to many species found in the northern Andes and the Amazon. They discovered several new plant species, including types of Gesneriaceae and Piperaceae.
The park is especially famous for its birds. A total of 462 different bird species were seen there! Scientists even put small rings on 246 of these birds to study them. Twelve of the bird species found are either threatened or near threatened, meaning they are at risk. Experts believe there could be more than 550 bird species in the park. This makes Serranía de los Churumbelos a very important place for bird diversity around the world.
The expeditions also found 46 species of amphibians (like frogs) and reptiles (like snakes and lizards). Four of these were new species for Colombia. They also saw animals like the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). These are two large and important mammals. About 150 different types of Lepidoptera (butterflies) were also recorded.
Unique Landscapes
The park has very steep slopes and different elevations. This creates many unique ecosystems and small habitats. This variety of places helps explain why the park has such a huge number of different plants and animals.
In 1998, explorers found a flat-topped mountain inside the park that looked like the famous Tepuis in Venezuela. They named this special area Alto Cagadero.
Why Protecting the Park is Important
There are very good reasons to protect Serranía de los Churumbelos. The park has many different ecosystems and habitats, which leads to its incredible variety of life.
The eastern side of the Andes mountains has seen a lot of human activity and habitat loss recently. However, Serranía de los Churumbelos has remained mostly untouched. This means it has avoided much of the damage seen in other areas.
But the park is now facing new challenges. A new highway has been built, and there are plans for more roads. Also, people have found oil and valuable metals in the area. These activities could lead to more people moving into the park, which would threaten its natural beauty and wildlife. Protecting this park helps keep these special plants and animals safe for the future.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional natural Serranía de los Churumbelos Auka-Wasi para niños
