Villarrica National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Villarrica National Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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View of Villarrica National Park
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| Location | La Araucanía and Los Ríos regions, Chile |
| Nearest city | Pucón |
| Area | 630 km2 (243 sq mi) |
| Established | 1940 |
| Visitors | 115,761 (in 2012) |
| Governing body | Corporación Nacional Forestal |
Villarrica National Park is a special place in the Andes mountains of Chile. You can find it in the La Araucanía and Los Ríos areas, close to the city of Pucón. This park is famous for its three amazing volcanoes: Villarrica, Quetrupillán, and Lanín. These volcanoes stand in a line across the Andean mountain range.
Other cool mountains in the park include Quinquilil volcano, which is about 2,050 meters (6,726 feet) tall and also known as Colmillo del Diablo (Devil's Fang). There's also Cerro Las Peinetas, which sits right on the border between Argentina and Chile. The park's elevation changes a lot, from about 600 meters (1,969 feet) up to 3,776 meters (12,388 feet) at the top of Lanín Volcano.
Inside the park, some rivers flow towards the Toltén River and others towards the Valdivia River. This area is like a natural dividing line for the water. A part of Villarrica National Park is also included in a special area called the Bosques Templados Lluviosos de los Andes Australes Biosphere Reserve. This means it's a place recognized internationally for its unique nature and for helping people and nature live together.
Contents
Plants and Animals of Villarrica National Park
This park is home to a special type of forest called the Valdivian temperate rainforest. These forests are known for being very green and rainy.
Trees and Plants
- At lower elevations, you'll find tall trees like Roble (Nothofagus obliqua) and Raulí (Nothofagus alpina).
- In the wettest spots, Coihue trees grow.
- As you go higher up the mountains, the forests change. Here, you'll see many Araucarias (Araucaria araucana). These trees are very old and have unique, scale-like leaves.
Wildlife and Their Habitat
The park's thick forests provide a safe home for many different animals.
- You might spot large pumas, which are also known as mountain lions.
- Smaller animals like chillas and culpeos (types of foxes) live here.
- Look out for pudúes, which are tiny deer, and coypus, a type of large rodent that lives near water.
- Birds like Harris's hawks soar in the sky.
- Other interesting creatures include lesser grisons and Molina's hog-nosed skunks.
- The park is also a vital place for the rare monitos del monte, a small marsupial that looks a bit like a mouse.
Relaxing Hot Springs
One of the most amazing features of Villarrica National Park is the Termas Geométricas hot springs. These hot springs are found deep inside a beautiful ravine within the park's forest. There are about 60 hot springs in total! Visitors can walk along a series of wooden boardwalks that wind through the ravine, allowing them to easily reach and enjoy the warm, natural waters. It's a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature.
Images for kids
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View of Villarrica National Park
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Villarrica para niños
