Location: Tarapacá Region
Area: 1,747 km²
The Isluga Volcano National Park is a Chilean national park
located in the Tarapacá Region, located at an average altitude of
4,000 meters above sea level, covering 174,744 ha distributed in the
communes of Colchane, Camiña and Huara. It was created in 1967, but
its limits Current ones were set in 1985.
In general, the
relief of the park is quite regular. The highest altitudes are
recorded by the Quimsachata hills at 5,400 meters above sea level,
Tatajachura at 5,252 meters above sea level and Latarama at 5,207
meters above sea level. The height of the Isluga volcano, which
gives its name to the park, is also considerable, at 5,514,147
meters above sea level, with permanently snow-capped peaks and
craters of fumarolic emission.
In its interior, the Arabilla
River stands out, which rises on the southern slopes of the
Quimsachatas hills and changes its name downstream; the Aroma
ravine, whose surface waters are born from a series of ephemeral
tributaries; and the Parinacota and Arabilla lagoons, which have a
great variety of birdlife and relevant scenic environments.
As for the climate, the average annual rainfall ranges from 50 mm to
250 mm, concentrating from December to March. The average annual
temperatures are 10 and -5 °C.
Another attraction, and the
most important, is the Puchuldiza geothermal field, made up of
geysers and hot springs, in which the water reaches up to 85 °C. The
fumaroles are mainly seen at dawn on the plateau and, in winter,
during the coldest months, the waters freeze to form magnificent
blocks of ice.
Representative flora
In this landscape there are plant communities
called desert scrubs that include species such as cacti, columnar,
tolares (Fabiana densa), llaretales (Azorella compact), queñoales
(Polylepis besseri) and bofedales.
representative fauna
The
fauna is characterized by guanacos (Lama guanicoe), vicuñas (Vicugna
vicugna), llamas (Lama glama), alpacas (Vicugna pacos), culpeo foxes
(Lycalopex culpaeus), vizcachas (Lagidium viscacia), Bolivian long-eared
mice (Auliscomys boliviensis), ñandúes de la puna or suris (Rhea pennata
tarapacensis), northern jergones ducks (Anas flavirostris oxyptera),
crows of the puna swamp (Plegadis ridgwayi), harriers of the puna
(Geranoaetus poecilochrous), condors (Vultur gryphus), among others .
Access roads
The park is accessed by the international road Route
15-CH, which connects the city of Iquique with the town of Colchane. It
is a paved road and is 190 km from the city of Iquique and 20 km from
the town of Colchane.2 The city of Iquique is located 10 meters above
sea level, while Colchane is at 3,730 meters of altitude.
Subsoil
protection
The Isluga National Park has protection of its subsoil as
a place of scientific interest for mining purposes, according to the
official list of the Ministry of Mining, as established in article 17 of
the Mining Code. These tasks can only be carried out through a written
permit by the President of the Republic and also signed by the Minister
of Mining. 8 The absolute prohibition for the exploration and mining of
soil and subsoil is not contemplated in Chilean legislation.
The
condition of place of scientific interest for mining purposes was
established by Supreme Decree No. 151 of September 26, 1985 and
published on March 10, 1986. 10 which sets the protection polygon.