Paracas National Reserve | |
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Reserva Nacional de Paracas | |
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
![]() Supay beach, at Paracas National Reserve. | |
Location | ![]() Ica |
Nearest city | Pisco |
Coordinates | 13°53′43.5″S76°16′15.9″W / 13.895417°S 76.271083°W |
Area | 3350 km² |
Established | 25 September 1975 |
Governing body | SERNANP |
Website | Reserva Nacional de Paracas (in Spanish) |
Official name | Paracas |
Designated | 30 March 1992 |
Reference no. | 545 [1] |
Paracas National Reserve is a protected area in the region of Ica, Peru and protects desert and marine ecosystems for their conservation and sustainable use. [2] There are also archaeological remains of the Paracas culture inside the reserve. [2]
The reserve is located in the region of Ica, 250 km south of Lima, and a few kilometres from the town of Pisco. [2] It spans an area of 335,000 hectares, 65% of which correspond to marine ecosystems. [3] The highest elevation in the reserve is 786 m. [3]
The reserve includes coastal geographic features such as: the Paracas Peninsula, Independencia Bay, San Gallán Island, Paracas Bay and Independencia Island. [4]
Pisco | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Paracas National Reserve is an arid zone, with intense local winds known as paracas. [2] Precipitation is scarce and occurs in winter, falling mostly on the top of the highest hills, which is vital to the lomas ecosystem. [2] [5] The following climograph corresponds to the nearby town of Pisco (19 m of elevation). [6]
Some terrestrial plant species found in the reserve are: Tiquilia paronychoides, Prosopis pallida , Distichlis spicata , Tillandsia spp., Eriosyce omasensis, Geoffroea decorticans , Sesuvium portulacastrum , Cressa truxillensis , Geranium limae, Suaeda foliosa and Oxalis carnosa. [7] [8] [5] [4]
Marine algae found in the reserve include: Ulva lactuca , Chondracanthus chamissoi, Macrocystis pyrifera and Pyropia columbina . [7] [9] [10]
The Paracas National Reserve houses a great biological diversity, especially in the marine-coastal part. It is estimated that there are about 216 species of birds, 36 of mammals, 10 of reptiles, 168 of fish and a large number of invertebrates that are an initial part of the trophic chain of this important place.
Mammals found in the reserve include: the sei whale, South American fur seal, dusky dolphin, marine otter, sperm whale, humpback whale, South American sea lion, killer whale, common bottlenose dolphin and southern right whale. [2] [4]
Birds found in the reserve include: the Andean condor, Chilean flamingo, spotted sandpiper, oasis hummingbird, Peruvian pelican, Inca tern, black skimmer, Humboldt penguin, guanay cormorant, Peruvian thick-knee, Andean swift and Peruvian diving petrel. [7] [4] The reserve has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of several bird species. [11]
Molluscs found in the area include: Argopecten purpuratus , Concholepas concholepas , Thais chocolata , Fissurella maxima , Glaucus atlanticus , Choromytilus chorus and Aulacomya atra . [4]
Fish found in the reserve include: Peruvian hake, flathead grey mullet, skipjack tuna, blue flyingfish, humpback smooth-hound, copper shark, Peruvian anchoveta, eastern Pacific bonito, Peruvian eagle ray, fine flounder, blue shark, corvina and bigeye tuna. [4]
There are more than 100 archaeological sites identified inside the reserve, many of them of the Paracas culture, known especially for their textile crafts. [2]
Beach tourism and wildlife observation are the main activities in the reserve. [2]