Location: 69 mi (112 km) North- West of Resistancia, Chaco Province Map
Area: 150 km²
Info: Captan Solari
Tel. (03725) 499 161
Admission Fee: free
Open: 9am- 7pm daily
The Chaco National Park is a protected natural area located in
the province of Chaco in Argentina. Its objective is the
conservation of the environment of the eastern zone of the Chaco,
characterized by its lagoons and jungle vegetation alternated with
palm groves and wetlands; These environments are developed in the
park around the course of the Negro River, which crosses the eastern
sector of the park. The national park has 14,981 hectares. The
climate is subtropical with no dry season.
The national park
has a Management Plan approved in 2019.
General
characteristics
In the park there are forests of red quebracho, a
tree that has been cut down indiscriminately and reduced to the
point of putting it in danger of extinction during the 20th century.
The howler monkey and the talking parrot are other endangered
species that live within the area.
Within the park there are
diverse landscapes, such as mountains made up of trees up to 15 m
high, savannahs, estuaries and lagoons. The lagoons are Panza de
Cabra, Yacaré and Capybara.
The typical flora is that of red
quebracho and white quebracho, red thorn, lapacho, guayabí, guayacán
and chaguares. The characteristic fauna includes aguraguazues,
tapirs, brown deer, anteaters (very rare), tamaduás, pumas, greater
ferrets, collared peccaries, Moorish cats, guazunchos, carayá
monkey, alligators, aquatic turtles, cocoés, climbing frogs,
curiyús, etc. . Among the more than 340 species of birds are owls,
short owls, urutaú, woodpeckers, Paraguayan magpies, herons,
chajáes, biguaes, water cocks, storks, horneros, ducks, red-legged
chuñas and even rheas, etc.
In several areas of the park you
can camp. There is an interpretation trail that can be traveled by
vehicle, with two sections to be covered on foot. One of these
sections leads to the Capybara and Yacaré lagoons for bird watching,
and on the other trail you can see the native trees.
Management
By resolution No. 126/2011 of the National Parks
Administration of May 19, 2011, it was established that the national
park would be classified for administrative purposes in the category
protected areas of complexity III, for which it is headed by a
designated intendant, On which 4 departments depend (Administration;
Works and Maintenance; National Park Rangers; Conservation and
Public Use) and the Dispatch and Entry, Exit, and Notifications
Division.10 The administration has its headquarters in the town of
Capitán Solari.
Creation and legislation
In 1936 the National Executive Branch
presented a bill to create 7 national parks and reserves, among which
was the Chaco of 15,000 ha. The law was not sanctioned by Congress and
President Agustín Pedro Justo through Decree No. 105 433 of May 11, 1937
declared 4 territories of Patagonia, not including the Chaco, national
reserves for national parks.