SALINAL Y AGUADA BLANCA NATIONAL RESERVE

SALINAL Y AGUADA BLANCA NATIONAL RESERVE: Between Puno, Colca Canyon & Arequipa. Vicuñas, Flamingos & other aquatic birds, best Altiplano Park

Salinas & Aguada Blanca National Reserve

With 366,936 ha, this Altiplano reserve is one of the larger protected areas of Peru. The reserve was created in 1979 and includes several impressive volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, Pichupichu and Ubinas. With its elevations varying between about 2,800 and 6,057m at the peak of the Chachani Mountain, the area protects different elements of the Puna or Altiplano ecosystems of Southern Peru. The park has also been declared a wetland of international importance for its highland bogs, as well as a rather large saline lake, Lake Salinas, where 3 species of Flamingos are present. At different locations in the park one finds beautiful cliffs with hoodoo formations.

The area is home to 23 mammals, among which the taruca, Hippocamelus antisensis, or north Andean deer, Vicuñas, Guanacos, Pumas, Andean Foxes, Viscachas and a variety of rodents and bats.

More than150 species of birds have been recorded for the park, including Andes Condors, vultures, a variety of birds of pray, 3 species of flamingos, Andes Lapwing and other shorebirds, etc. There are 2 species of native fish, as well as introduced trout.

For its high elevation as well as centuries of habitation, the park has virtually no trees, with exception of the so-called queñuales, groves of Polylepis trees, which have survived in isolated pockets.

3 species of flamingos in Lake Salinas, the Puna Flamingo, Phoenicopterus jamesi, the Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis, and the Andean Flamingo, Phoenicoparrus andinus.

Salinas & Aguada Blanca National Reserve sign and the visitor center unfortunately show poor maintenance and design. We are told however, what the park lacks on visitor infrastructure is made up by rather effective patrolling and protection, which can be seen from the omnipresent vicuñas.

Grazing land in the altiplano with alpacas.

Bright yellow asters at the altiplano.

Lake Lagunillas.

The pass at 4528m, just 300m lower than the Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain.

Hoodoo formations with very sparse arid vegetation.

Yareta is a very small cushion forming plant of the Altiplano.

Hoodoos in Salinas & Aguada Blanca at Patahuasi the fork in the road with a tourist restaurant, where the road branches off to Chivay.

Salinas Lake with salt formation.

A road sign warning for camel species crossing, which is definitely necessary, as alpacas and vicuñas cross all the time! When the park was created some 4,000 vicuñas were present, but due to protection the numbers have increased considerably and they can now be seen everywhere along the roads.

Guanacos - the wild ancestor of the Lama - prefers living at lower elevations than the Lama, but can still be found as high as 3,500 m. It is extremely draught tolerant and can be found in deserts from Peru to Southern Argentina. When the park was created only 250 animals were counted, but due to protection, the numbers have increased.

The shy Andean Fox, is not often seen but present everywhere.

Viscachas are common in the park and a highly valued pray for Andean Foxes.

Condors are present in the park but not common.

Polylepsis is a high elevation tree that grows as high as 4,000m and is one of the world's highest growing tree species. Most forests have been cut down as fuel wood and for construction, but a few groves survive, from where slow recovery is possible.