| El Cocuy National Park | |
|---|---|
| Parque Nacional Natural El Cocuy | |
 Pico Aguja (5.000 m), seen from North. | |
  Map of Colombia | |
| Location | Andes Mountains, Colombia |
| Nearest city | El Cocuy |
| Coordinates | 6°30′04″N72°07′12″W / 6.501°N 72.12°W [1] |
| Area | 3,060 km2 (1,180 sq mi) |
| Established | 1977 |
| www | |
El Cocuy National Park is a national park located in the Andes Mountains within the nation of Colombia. Its official name is Parque Nacional Natural El Cocuy. [3]
Because of its high altitude, and although it is located close to the equator, El Cocuy is characterized by post-glacial geological morphology, including steep slopes, cirques, moraines, and glacier-gouged lakes La Pintada and La Cuadrada. The park's topography covers 4,500 meters (15,000 feet) from its lowest point to its highest point. The park is visited by climbers and rockclimbers of all skill levels. [3]
El Cocuy National Park is located in the Department of Boyacá, near the villages of El Cocuy and Güicán. [3]
The climate of El Cocuy National Park varies greatly due to its broad altitudinal range, that goes from 600 meters (1968.5 feet) to 5330 meters (17487 feet) over sea level. This variation brings about multiple microclimates, with temperatures that go from -4°C (24.8°F) on the upper parts, up to 24°C (75.2°F) on the lower parts. On the high mountain predominates a cold and dry climate with occasionals snowfalls, strong solar radiation and frecuent fog presence. The precipitation is moderate and distributed between dry and humid seasons typical of the andean region. These weather conditions directly influence in the distribution of the ecosystems, from cold highlands to warmer forests in the foothills of the plains.
The national park's glacial heritage has made climate change a key element in the park's future. An 1851 watercolor of the "Great Snowfields near Güicán" shows Mount Chita fully capped in snow. [4] As of 2009 [update] , the national park's historic icefield has shrunk to scattered snowcaps, and is expected to entirely disappear within a few decades. [3]