The most visited protected area in Bolivia
A WALK THROUGH THE ANDEAN FAUNA RESERVE NATIONAL Eduardo Abaroa
To the south of the Department of Potosi, find one of the unique attractions that gives us the South Lipez Province, the National Andean Fauna Reserve Eduardo Abaroa (REA), a protected area that receives the largest number of tourists in Bolivia. 2005 are expected to fifty thousand local and foreign visitors projected for the next two years, ten thousand to gradually increase each year.
THE ROAD TO RESERVE Eduardo Abaroa
There are several ways to enter the REA, the route we took with a group of journalists from the city of La Paz was one of the most comfortable. We decided to take a bus to the city of Oruro and from there boarded a train to Uyuni.
A few minutes of the game we find a stunning spectacle that put into action all the cameramen and photographers of the group, hundreds of pink flamingos large clouds formed on both sides of the train showing the charm of Lake Poopo. All the windows were opened, hundreds of photographs were taken and some colleagues said no matter what happens in the rest of the trip, with only this show worth the trip.
From Uyuni toward the protected area is surprisingly small towns with streets arranged symmetrically, uniform buildings are showing that Model Populations.
THE MEETING WITH THE RESERVATION Eduardo Abaroa
After four hours of travel, the driver announced that we entered the protected area, as expected all journalists were careful to meet the magic that thousands of tourists seeking to enter the reserve.
The high Andean landscape is stunning and gives us a sense of freedom with a total blue sky, which is one of the reasons that allow for great color contrasts in the photographs of the region.
By accessing the area a few minutes a group of vicuña is the reason for losing Optura vehicles and for images.
A ranger told us that the reserve has an area of 714 745 ha (7147 km ²) there are only two communities Quetena Chico and Quetena Grande, indicates further that two-day tour will visit some of the most important attractions such as the Laguna Colorada, the green lake, the stone tree and a center of environmental and ecological interpretation is the largest of Bolivia within protected areas, located in the community Quetena Julo in Chico.
COLOR LAKES
After a couple of hours drive we enter an important RAMSAR site, Laguna Colorada, a habitat for hundreds of flamingos that added to the natural charm of the place us into a fantasy world. Seldom has the chance to see a show that depending on the location of the sunlight, the lake becomes a reddish playing harmoniously with the pink flamingos.
A few hours after this visit even more hits green lagoon, we are informed that one of the most important research sites in the Province, due to its similarity with some geomorphological features and landscape that has the planet Mars.
THE RETURN
After the visit to the Reserve Eduardo Abaroa, decided back in Uyuni in vehicles of the National Service of Protected Areas and take the highway to enter wider world, white and dazzling, with a depth of thirty meters of salt, by we walked forty-five minutes at a speed of ninety miles per hour. It is the world famous Salar de Uyuni one of the most important tourist attractions in the region.
In short our visit to the REA was simply a confirmation that this protected area is one of the most beautiful in the country. |