Nahuelbuta National Park
Encyclopedia
Nahuelbuta National Park is one of the few parks located in Araucanía Region
of Chile
's Coastal Mountain Range. It sits atop the highest part of the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta. Created in 1939, it consists of 6,832 hectares situated just 162 km northeast of Temuco. Nahuelbuta (Mapuche for "big tiger") is a sanctuary for Monkey Puzzle
trees, with specimens dating back 2,000 years. Though these are the only trees you will find at the highest altitudes of the park, you will see coigüe, ñirre, oak, lenga, orchids, carnivorous plants as well as birds like the black woodpecker and mammals like the puma, Darwin fox and pudú (a small Chilean deer) in the lower lying areas.
The park features 30 roads and 15 trails which you can explore by car or on foot. The Conaf information center and camping area are both found in Pehuenco, where the most popular route begins. Following it will treat you to over four kilometers of scenic paths before ending at Cerro Piedra del Águila (1,379 meters). The peak offers a terrific view of the park's exuberant and pristine natural wonders, the immensity of the Pacific Ocean to the west, and an impressive chain of Andean volcanoes to the east. At sundown, you can enjoy the most sublime postcard view Nahuelbuta has to offer: a sky marked by red and pink hues framed by hundreds of thousand-year-old Monkey Puzzle
.
The park provides habitat for the Mountain lion, the Pudú
and Darwin's Fox
. Among the birds are the Magellanic Woodpecker
, the Andean Tapaculo
and the Chucao Tapaculo
.
Araucanía Region
The IX Araucanía Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions and comprises two provinces: Malleco in the north and Cautín in the south....
of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
's Coastal Mountain Range. It sits atop the highest part of the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta. Created in 1939, it consists of 6,832 hectares situated just 162 km northeast of Temuco. Nahuelbuta (Mapuche for "big tiger") is a sanctuary for Monkey Puzzle
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana is an evergreen tree growing to tall with a trunk diameter. The tree is native to central and southern Chile, western Argentina and south Brazil. Araucaria araucana is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria...
trees, with specimens dating back 2,000 years. Though these are the only trees you will find at the highest altitudes of the park, you will see coigüe, ñirre, oak, lenga, orchids, carnivorous plants as well as birds like the black woodpecker and mammals like the puma, Darwin fox and pudú (a small Chilean deer) in the lower lying areas.
The park features 30 roads and 15 trails which you can explore by car or on foot. The Conaf information center and camping area are both found in Pehuenco, where the most popular route begins. Following it will treat you to over four kilometers of scenic paths before ending at Cerro Piedra del Águila (1,379 meters). The peak offers a terrific view of the park's exuberant and pristine natural wonders, the immensity of the Pacific Ocean to the west, and an impressive chain of Andean volcanoes to the east. At sundown, you can enjoy the most sublime postcard view Nahuelbuta has to offer: a sky marked by red and pink hues framed by hundreds of thousand-year-old Monkey Puzzle
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana is an evergreen tree growing to tall with a trunk diameter. The tree is native to central and southern Chile, western Argentina and south Brazil. Araucaria araucana is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria...
.
The park provides habitat for the Mountain lion, the Pudú
Pudú
The pudús are two species of South American deer from the genus Pudu; the world's smallest deer. The name is a loanword from Mapudungun the language of the indigenous Mapuche people of southern Chile...
and Darwin's Fox
Darwin's Fox
Darwin's fox or Darwin's Zorro is a small Critically endangered canine from the genus Lycalopex. It is also known as the Zorro Chilote or Zorro de Darwin in Spanish and lives on Chiloé Island and Nahuelbuta National Park in mainland Chile .Darwin's fox was first collected from San Pedro Island off...
. Among the birds are the Magellanic Woodpecker
Magellanic Woodpecker
The Magellanic Woodpecker is a very large woodpecker resident to Chile along the Andes, and to some parts of southwestern Argentina. This species is the southern-most example of the genus Campephilus, which includes the famous Ivory-billed Woodpecker.The Magellanic Woodpecker is 45 cm in length...
, the Andean Tapaculo
Magellanic Tapaculo
The Magellanic Tapaculo is a small passerine bird of southern South America. It belongs to the genus Scytalopus, a genus of tapaculos.-Taxonomy:...
and the Chucao Tapaculo
Chucao Tapaculo
The Chucao Tapaculo is a species of bird in the Rhinocryptidae family.It is found in Argentina and Chile.Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-References:...
.