By Ayngelina Brogan
South America Travel Expert, about.com
While many visitors are drawn to Peru
by the amazing historical sites that date from the height of the Inca
empire, one of the real attractions of the country is that it does have a
huge range of different natural attractions too, from beautiful coastal
areas through to the majestic Andes mountains.
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In order to make
sure that these natural areas are protected, there are a range of
different national parks and reserves that have been created in order to
ensure that the natural heritage of the country is preserved, and so
that visitors can continue to appreciate the wonderful sights and
species of the region.
Cutervo National Park
This is
Peru's oldest national park having been founded in 1961, and was created
to protect a relatively small area in the Yungas region of the country.
Despite being a small park, the Cutervo National Park has one of the
most interesting natural sites in the country, the San Andres Cave,
which is home to the endangered guacharo bird.
The park is also home to other endangered animals such as the jaguar, spectacled bear and the mountain tapir.
Manu National Park
This
park has been recognized as an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve because of its
wide range of wildlife and the different types of terrain that is
included within the park's boundaries. The park is named after the Manu
River, which runs from the Andes mountains through the different
altitudes down to the lowlands where much of the jungle in the park is
contained. There are thousands of species of birds and butterflies in
the park, while mammals such as pumas, jaguars and red howler monkeys
are also found in the area.
Titicaca National Reservation
Lake Titicaca
is one of the highest bodies of water in the world that is navigated by
commercial vessels, but it is also a very interesting and unique
habitat that has some very rare wildlife. Along with the interesting
wildlife and freshwater life of the lake, it is also a very popular
destination because it is where the Uro Islands are located, and
although called islands they are actually man made rafts on which the
indigenous people have made their home.
Huascaran National Park
This
wonderful national park is located in the Cordillera Blanca, which is a
series of mountains linked to the Andes mountains, and because of its
impressive natural heritage it has been recognized as an UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The park includes Huascaran itself, which is the highest
mountain in Peru, and also has some amazing animal species including the
Andean condor, spectacled bear and big cats such as cougars and
jaguars.
Alto Purus National Park
This is the largest
protected area within Peru, and covers a significant portion of the
Peruvian area of the Amazon rainforest. Although they choose not to have
contact with tourists, or indeed any of the other people of Peru, the
park contains several remote tribes which actively avoid contact with
the people of the outside world. Some of the most attractive animals in
the park are the birds, which include parrots and macaws, and these can
often be spotted flying through the upper levels of the forest canopy,
or squawking loudly.
Paracas National Reserve
This coastal
marine reserve is home to a range of wildlife, and is particularly
known for the red sand on the beaches that is produced by the erosion of
the rocks on the coastline. The bird life in the area is particularly
interesting, with several species that are only found on the coast in
this part of Peru. The area is also home to several archaeological
finds, including human remains from over eight thousand years ago, and a
decorated flute which is the oldest known musical instrument in the
country.
