Pampa de Tamarugal National Wildlife Refuge


One of the most memorable natural attractions of Chile is the Pampa de Tamarugal National Wildlife Refuge. It is remarkable, first of all, for its unusual vegetation, which is sure to be interesting for tourists who prefer to rest in nature.

Description of the reserve

The location of the park is a desert plain, which has the same name. It is located in the region of Tarapaca, in the province of Tamarugal. The territory of the reserve is incredibly extensive and occupies more than 102 thousand hectares, there is a natural object at a very considerable height, which is 970 m.

The park is conditionally to be divided into three sectors, but the vegetation in them differs little from each other. The sectors are named Sapiga, La Tirana and Pintados. The main attraction of the reserve is the carob and Tamarugo, which rightly bears the title of the business card of the park.

The peculiarity of the tamarugo is that it is able to grow only in a certain locality. At one time, the trees were exterminated for the purpose of nitre production, so now they are an extremely rare species. The size of the tree is quite small, in appearance it is more like a shrub. Tamarugo belongs to the family of legumes.

The National Reserve has an optimal climate for the cultivation of this rare plant species. The tree prefers light, but does not tolerate snow, can withstand minus temperatures up to -5 ° C. For its growth, the steppe region, which is characteristic of the reserve, is considered ideal.

How to get to the reserve?

The national nature reserve Pampa de Tamarugal is open all year round. You can reach it by going on the Pan-American highway Arica - La Serena .