List of national parks of Colombia
Encyclopedia
The protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...

s of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

 are grouped in the National System of Protected Areas
National System of Protected Areas (Colombia)
The National System of Protected Areas is the Colombian national park administrator. It is a department under the Ministry of the Environment, Housing and Regional Development responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity...

. As of 2008, it has 58 natural national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...

s which cover about 12,579,081 ha and represent more than 10% of the country's continental land.

National System of Protected Areas

The National System of Protected Areas comprises four broad groups:
  • National protected areas, most of them in the Natural National Park System.
  • Regional protected areas.
  • Local protected areas.
  • Private protected areas.

Natural National Park System

The National Natural Park System is divided into natural national parks, fauna and flora sanctuaries, natural reserves, unique natural areas and one vía parque (park along a road).
align="center" style="background:DarkSlateBlue; color:white" |National Natural Parks of Colombia
Photo Established Name Region Department Extension (ha)
1960 Cueva de los Guácharos
Cueva de los Guácharos
The Cueva de los Guácharos National Park , created in 1960, is the oldest of the 51 protected areas of Colombia. The park is located in the western face of the Colombian Eastern Andean Range in the departments of Huila and Caquetá...

 
Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Huila 9,000
1964 Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park is Colombia's second oldest national park, established in 1964. It is located in the Cordillera Oriental range, between the departments of La Guajira, Magdalena and Cesar, in the mountain range of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta...

 
Caribbean region Magdalena
La Guajira
Cesar
383,000
1964 Salamanca Island Road Park
Salamanca Island Road Park
The Salamanca Island Road Park is a national park located in the Caribbean Region of Colombia, on the eastern outskirts of the city of Barranquilla in the Magdalena Department. The flora and fauna is in abundance because of the confluence of sweet water Magdalena River and saline water Caribbean Sea...

 
Caribbean region Magdalena 56,200
1968 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park
Farallones de Cali National Natural Park
The Farallones de Cali National Natural Park is the largest national park in the Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia. More than 30 rivers that supply the southwestern Colombia with water originate here...

 
Andean region (Cordillera Occidental) Valle del Cauca 150,000
1968 Puracé National Natural Park
Puracé National Natural Park
The Puracé National Natural Park is a national park located in the Andean Region of Colombia, southeast of the city of Popayán in the Cordillera Central range. Its main feature is the active stratovolcano Puracé, one of Colombia's most active volcanoes...

 
Andean region (Cordillera Central) Cauca
Huila
83,000
1969 Tayrona National Natural Park
Tayrona National Natural Park
The Tayrona National Natural Park is a protected area in the Colombian northern Caribbean region and within the jurisdiction of the Department of Magdalena and some 34 km from the city of Santa Marta...

 
Caribbean region Magdalena 15,000
1970 El Tuparro National Natural Park
El Tuparro National Natural Park
The Tuparro National Natural Park is a national park located in the in the Vichada Department in the Orinoquía Region of Colombia. It is the only protected area in the Eastern Plains under Colombia's Natural Parks System....

 
Orinoquía region Vichada 548,000
1971 Serranía de la Macarena
Serranía de la Macarena
Serranía de la Macarena is a Colombian mountain range located east of the Andes in the Meta Department. The mountains are separated by about 40 kilometers at their northern extreme from the Cordillera Oriental . The range is orientated from north to south and is 120 kilometers in length and 30...

 
Orinoquía region Meta 620,000
1973 Las Orquídeas National Park  Andean region (Cordillera Occidental) Antioquia 32,000
1973 Los Katíos National Park
Los Katíos National Park
Los Katíos National Park is a national park located in northwest Colombia which covers 278 square miles . It is a part of the Darién Gap, shared by Panama and Colombia and is contiguous to Darién National Park in Panama. The Pan-American Highway when completed as proposed will pass near or through...

 
Pacific region Chocó
Antioquia
72,000
1973 Los Nevados National Natural Park  Andean region (Cordillera Central) Risaralda
Tolima
Caldas
Quindio
58,300
1975 Amacayacu National Park
Amacayacu National Park
Amacayacu National Natural Park is a national park located along the Amazon River in the Amazonas Department in the south of Colombia. The park was created in 1975. The word "Amacayacu" means "River of the Hamocs" in the indigenous language Quechua. The Ticuna people currently inhabit a part of...

 
Amazon region Amazonas 293,500
1977 Las Hermosas National Natural Park
Las Hermosas National Natural Park
The Las Hermosas National Natural Park is a national park located in the Valle del Cauca Department at the highest elevation of Cordillera Central range in the Andean Region of Colombia. Its main feature is probably the wetlands and 387 glacial lakes....

 
Andean region (Cordillera Central) Tolima
Valle del Cauca
125,000
1977 Nevado del Huila
Nevado del Huila
Nevado del Huila , at , is the highest volcano in Colombia, located in Huila Department. After being dormant for more than 500 years, the volcano showed heavy signs of activity in 2007 and 2008. As of February 20, 2007, there were more than 7000 "minor" seismic events, and a high state of...

 
Andean region (Cordillera Central) Huila
Tolima
Cauca
Valle del Cauca
158,000
1977 Cordillera de los Picachos National Park  Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Meta
Caquetá
Huila
444,740
1977 Chingaza National Park  Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Cundinamarca
Meta
76,600
1977 Sumapaz National Park  Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Meta
Cundinamarca
Huila
154,000
1977 Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy Chita o Guican National Natural Park The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy Chita o Guican National Natural Park The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy Chita o Guican National Natural Park (or Sierra Nevada de Chita or Sierra Nevada de Güicán, is a national park and a set of highlands within...

 
Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Arauca
Boyacá
Casanare
306,000
1977 Pisba National Park  Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Boyacá 45,000
1977 Tamá National Natural Park
Tamá National Natural Park
The Tamá National Natural Park is a national park located in the Andean Region of Colombia, between the municipalities Toledo and Herrán, in the Norte de Santander Department, in the northeastern part of the Cordillera Central range...

 
Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Norte de Santander 15,000
1977 Lake Iguaque
Lake Iguaque
Lake Iguaque is a lake located in the Boyacá department of Colombia. The lake and the surrounding area were declarated National park of Colombia in 1977.- Description :...

 
Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Boyacá 6,750
1977 Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park
Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park
The Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park is a natural park located in the Sucre and Bolívar Departments on the coast of the Caribbean Region of Colombia, 45 km from the Bay of Cartagena...

 
Caribbean region Bolívar
Sucre
120,000
1977 Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta
Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta
The Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta is the largest of the swampy marshes located between the Magdalena River and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, weakly separated from the Caribbean Sea by a narrow strait....

 
Caribbean region Magdalena 26,810
1977 Sanquianga National Park  Pacific region Nariño 80,000
1977 Serranía de Macuira
Serranía de Macuira
Serranía de Macuira is a mountain range in northern Colombia located in the municipality of Uribia, Guajira Peninsula and part of the La Guajira Department. The Serrania de Macuira stands in the middle of the La Guajira Desert at 864 meters over sea level, isolated from the mountain ranges of...

 
Caribbean region La Guajira 25,000
1977 Paramillo National Park  Caribbean region (Cordillera Occidental) Córdoba
Antioquia
460,000
1977 Munchique National Natural Park  Andean region (Cordillera Occidental) Cauca 44,000
1977 Los Colorados Fauna and Flora Sanctuary  Caribbean region Bolívar 1,000
1977 Isla de La Corota Fauna and Flora Sanctuary  Andean region (Cordillera Central) Nariño 16
1977 Flamingos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
Flamingos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
Flamingos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary has been a natural park since 1977. It is located in the Colombian Caribbean Region and the Guajira Peninsula and part of the department of La Guajira....

 
Caribbean region La Guajira 7,682
1983 Gorgona Island National Park  Insular region Cauca 61,687
1984 La Paya National Park  Amazon region Putumayo 422,000
1985 Galeras
Galeras
Galeras is an Andean stratovolcano in the Colombian department of Nariño, near the departmental capital Pasto. Its summit rises above sea level. It has erupted frequently since the Spanish conquest, with its first historical eruption being recorded on December 7, 1580...

 
Andean region (Nudo de los Pastos) Nariño 7,615
1986 Cahuinarí National Park  Amazon region Amazonas 575,000
1987 Ensenada de Utría National Park  Pacific region Chocó 54,300
1987 Tatamá National Park  Andean region (Cordillera Occidental) Chocó
Risaralda
Valle del Cauca
51,900
1988 Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area
Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area
The Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area is one of the smaller national parks, covering only , located in the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia in the Norte de Santander Department. The landscape is shaped by large brownstone pedestals and columns formed by thousands of years of erosion...

 
Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Norte de Santander 640
1989 Chiribiquete National Park
Chiribiquete National Park
Chiribiquete National Park is the largest national park in Colombia. This protected area occupies of the Amazon Region of Colombia. The centerpiece of the protected area is the Chiribiquete Mountains, which are the western edge of the Guiana Shield....

 
Amazon region Caquetá
Guaviare
1,280,000
1989 Nukak Natural Reserve  Amazon region Guaviare
Vaupés
855,000
1989 Puinawai Natural Reserve  Amazon region Guainía 1,092,500
1989 Tinigua National Park  Amazon region Meta 201,875
1989 Catatumbo Barí National Park  Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Norte de Santander 158,125
1993 Guaneta Alto Río Fonce Fauna and Flora Sanctuary  Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Santander 10,429
1995 Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Natural Park
Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Natural Park
The Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Natural Park is a national park located on the northeast side of Providencia Island in the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, Colombia....

 
Insular region San Andrés y Providencia 995
1995 Malpelo Island
Malpelo Island
Malpelo Island is an island located from Colombia's Pacific coast, and approximately from Panama's coast. It has a land area of . It is uninhabited except for a small military post manned by the Colombian Army, which was established in 1986. Visitors need a written permit from the Colombian...

 
Insular region Valle del Cauca 120
1996 Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary  Andean region (Cordillera Central) Risaralda 489
2002 Río Puré National Park  Amazon region Amazonas 999,880
2002 Alto Fragua Indi-Wasi National Park  Amazon region Caquetá 68,000
2002 "El mono Hernández" Cork Forest Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
"El mono Hernández" Cork Forest Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
The "El mono Hernández" Cork Forest Flora and Fauna Sanctuary is a natural monument located in the Sucre and Bolívar Departments on the coast of the Caribbean Region of Colombia....

 
Caribbean region Sucre
Bolívar
3,850
2005 Selva de Florencia National Park  Andean region (Cordillera Central) Caldas 10,019
2005 Yariguíes National Park
Yariguíes National Park
Yariguíes National Park is a natural park in north central Colombia. It is located in the Santander department and measures . It was officially designated as a national natural park in 2005.-External links:*...

 
Andean region (Cordillera Oriental) Santander 78,837
2007 Doña Juana-Cascabel Volcanic Complex
Doña Juana-Cascabel Volcanic Complex
Doña Juana-Cascabel Volcanic Complex National Natural Park is a Colombian National Natural Park. The park is located in the Southern Departments of Nariño and Cauca; The park is named after three volcanoes which are Doña Juana, Petacas and Animas...

 
Andean region (Nudo de los Pastos) Cauca
Nariño
65,858
2007 Serranía de los Churumbelos
Serranía de los Churumbelos
Serranía de Los Churumbelos Auka-Wasi National Natural Park was declared on 30 August 2007 by the Colombian government; located in the Bota Caucana of southern Colombia. Three biological expeditions conducted rapid biodiversity surveys and conservation assessments in Serranía de los Churumbelos...

 
Amazon region Cauca
Caquetá
Putumayo
Huila
97,189
2008 Santuario Orito Indí-Andé Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
Santuario Orito Indí-Andé Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
Santuario Orito Indí-Andé Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is a national park in Putumayo Department, ColombiaIt is the newest park after Indí Wasi and Serranía de los Churumbelos....

 
Amazon region Nariño
Putumayo
10,204
2009 Yaigojé Apaporis Natural Park  Amazonian region Vaupés 1,060,603
2010 Uramba Bahia Malaga Natural Park  Pacific region Valle del Cauca 47,094

Proposed areas

Currently there are other proposed areas for national natural parks:
  • Serranía de Minas Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Serranía de Minas Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Serranía de Minas Fauna and Flora Sanctuary located near the Purace National Park in the Department of Huila, the Serranía de Minas is part of the fluvial star of Magdalena, where most of the Magdalena river affluents are born....

    , a regional natural park in Huila with 20,000 ha.
  • Morichales de Paz de Ariporo Natural Park


The following locations could be declared fauna and flora sanctuaries:
  • Bahía Málaga Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Bahía Málaga Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    The Bahía Málaga Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is a sanctuary located between the Valle and Chocó Departments of Colombia. Humpback Whales swimming from Antarctica may be seen here....

  • Bahía Portete Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Bahía Portete Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    The Bahía Portete Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is located in northern Colombia, in the La Guajira Department. The ecosystem has reefs, mangroves, turtles and alligators....

  • Bosque Seco del Patía Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Bosque Seco del Patía Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Bosque Seco del Patía Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, or Patia Dry Forest, is a wildlife sanctuary in Colombia. It is located on the border between the Nariño Department and the Cauca Department....

  • Bosque Seco de Cúcuta
  • Playona Acandí Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Playona Acandí Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Playona Acandí Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is one of eleven new national parks in Colombia. It is the home of the Cana Turtle. This new park is on the Caribbean coast of the Department of Chocó....

  • Serranía de Pinche Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Serranía de Pinche Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Serranía de Pinche Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is located between Guapí and Argelia municipalities in the Department of Cauca, Colombia....

  • Serranía del Perijá Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Serranía del Perijá Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
    Serranía del Perijá Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is located in the departments of Cesar Department and La Guajira on the border of Colombia and Venezuela. It houses 359 species of birds and spectacled bears....

  • Serranía de San Lucas - now considered unlikely to be protected as the area has been opened up to gold mining companies.

Disbanded areas

Some zones of the park system had been disbanded because of negative human impact on the environment:
  • Arauca Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
  • Manaure National Natural Park

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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