Laguna del Laja National Park
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Laguna del Laja National Park
| iucn_category = II
| photo = Antuco Volcano.jpg
| photo_caption = Antuco volcano
| location = Bío Bío Region, Chile
| nearest_city = Los Ángeles
| coordinates = {{coord|37|25|00|S|71|21|00|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area = 119 km2
| established = 1958
| visitation_num = 48,837National Forest Corporation: [http://www.conaf.cl/wp-content/files_mf/1385733297Totalvisitantesa%C3%B1o2012.pdf Estadística Visitantes 2012], 11 January 2013
| visitation_year = 2012
| governing_body = Corporación Nacional Forestal
}}
Laguna del Laja National Park ({{IPA|es|laˈɣuna ðel ˈlaxa}}) is a national park of Chile located in the Andes, between 37°22’ and 37°28’ south latitude and 71°16’ and 71°26’ west longitude.{{cite web | url = http://www.conaf.cl/modules/contents/files/unit2/file/b9623f98e6701cf2bede144537c09dbe.pdf | title = Plan de Manejo Parque Nacional Laguna del Laja | work = Documento de Trabajo | publisher = CONAF | accessdate = 2007-02-05 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20061105143055/http://www.conaf.cl/modules/contents/files/unit2/file/b9623f98e6701cf2bede144537c09dbe.pdf | archivedate = 2006-11-05 }}
Geography
The park features spectacular mountain landscapes, whose main attractions are the Antuco Volcano, Sierra Velluda and Laguna del Laja (Laja Lake). The latter gives the name to this protected area, but it only borders the park. The park ranges in elevation from 976 m to 3585 m at Sierra Velluda. Although a little snow caps Antuco volcano, much more snow adorns the two major summits of its southern neighbor, even during Chile’s summer. Sharp ridges and deep valleys carve this rugged region, which alternates between bare rock and lush vegetation.{{cite web | url = http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17536 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070715164611/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17536 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2007-07-15 | title = Cerro Antuco and Laguna de Laja, Chile | work = EO Newsroom: New Images | publisher = NASA | accessdate = 2007-02-05}} Another summit in the park, although least prominent, is Cerro Cóndor at 1,668 m.
The park forms part of the Bío Bío River basin. Some small tributaries of Laja River originate in the park.
Biology
The park lies within the Valdivian temperate forests ecoregion.{{cite journal|author=Olson, D. M, E. Dinerstein |title=Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth |journal=BioScience |year=2001 |volume=51 |issue=11 |pages=933–938 |doi=10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2 |display-authors=etal |doi-access=free }}
It is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the cougar and foxes (particularly the chilla and the culpeo). In the park have been identified 47 bird species.{{cite web|url=http://www.sernatur.cl/Areas_Silvestres/Biobio/Biobio.html |title=Áreas Silvestres |work=Región del Bío Bío |publisher=Sernatur |accessdate=2006-11-24 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924194709/http://www.sernatur.cl/Areas_Silvestres/Biobio/Biobio.html |archivedate=2006-09-24 |url-status=dead }}
Endangered and rare vegetation species are found in the park. Among them are: ciprés de la cordillera, araucaria, maitén del Chubut and radal enano.
Tourism
Several activities can be performed within the boundaries of the park and in the surrounding area including climbing, trekking, skiing and fishing.
File:panoplaja.jpg.}}]]
File:Cascadaplaja.jpg|One of the park's waterfalls
File:plaja.jpg|in the park
File:Vantuco1.JPG|Antuco volcano
File:Caverna hielo.JPG|Ice caves formed at the foot of the Sierra Velluda in summer.
References
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{{National Parks of Chile}}
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Category:Protected areas established in 1958
Category:Protected areas of Biobío Region
Category:National parks of Chile