Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve

Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Stipa ichu in the reserve.
Map showing the location of Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve
Map showing the location of Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve
Location Bolivia
Potosí Department, Sur Lípez Province
Coordinates22°32′06″S 67°39′00″W / 22.53500°S 67.65000°W / -22.53500; -67.65000
Area7147.45 km2
Established1973
Visitors67,000 (in 2007)
Governing bodyServicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (SERNAP)
Árbol de Piedra ("stone tree"), an unusual rock formation, about 7 meters high, a ventifact carved by wind-blown sand in the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve.

The Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve (Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa; Spanish acronym: REA) is located in Sur Lípez Province. Situated in the far southwestern region of Bolivia, it is the country's most visited protected area.[1] It is considered the most important protected area in terms of tourist influx in the Potosí Department.

Located at an altitude between 4,200 m (13,800 ft) and 5,400 m (17,700 ft)[citation needed] in Bolivia, it extends over an area of 714,745 hectares (1,766,170 acres) and includes the Laguna Colorada National Wildlife Sanctuary. Categorized under IUCN Category IV, it is primarily for the protection of birds that inhabit the different lagoons in the reserve.[2][3] The reserve protects part of the Central Andean dry puna (oligothermic) ecoregion.[2][4] The reserve's major attractions are erupting volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, lakes, fumaroles, mountains and its three endemic species of flamingos in particular.[5][6][7]

  1. ^ Robertson, Nina (2005). Fresh tracks in the forest: assessing incipient payments for environmental services initiatives in Bolivia. CIFOR. pp. 99–100. ISBN 978-979-3361-81-9. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Central Andean dry puna". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Bolivia: Eduardo Avaroa National Andean Fauna Reserve" (PDF). Ecotourism Emphasis Provides Dollars, Incentive to Protect Flamingo Haven South America Conservation Region: Southern Andes. parksinperil.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  4. ^ Olson, D. M, E. Dinerstein; et al. (2001). "Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth". BioScience. 51 (11): 933–938. doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna". The Nature Conservancy. Archived from the original on May 29, 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  6. ^ The Nature Conservancy (U.S.) (2003). Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  7. ^ Murphy, Alan; Perkins, Roger; Hannay, Kate (1 June 2002). Bolivia handbook. Footprint Travel Guides. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-903471-21-0. Retrieved 25 June 2011.