Tapantí National Park

{{Infobox Protected area

| name = Tapantí - Cerro de la Muerte Massif National Park

| iucn_category = II

| photo = Tapanti.jpg

| photo_caption = Waterfall seen from the visitor observatory

| embedded = {{Location map | Costa Rica

| caption = Location in Costa Rica

| border = none

| width = 300

| relief = 1

}}

| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|type=shape}}

| map_caption = Tapantí - Cerro de la Muerte Massif National Park area

| location = Costa Rica

| nearest_city = Cartago

| coordinates = {{coord|9|46|14|N|83|47|59|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| area = {{convert|583.20|km2|sqmi}}

| established = February 1, 1982{{cite web|url=http://www.sinac.go.cr/aclap_tapanti_general.php|language=Spanish|publisher=SINAC|title=Información General - Parque Nacional Tapantí Macizo de la Muerte|trans-title=General Information - Tapantí Macizo de la Muerte National Park|accessdate=2010-02-20|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162947/http://www.sinac.go.cr/aclap_tapanti_general.php|archivedate=2011-07-18}}

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC)

| url = [http://www.sinac.go.cr/aclap_tapanti.php Parque Nacional Tapantí]

| embedded1 = {{Designation list

| embed = yes

| designation1 = Ramsar

| designation1_offname = Turberas de Talamanca

| designation1_date = 2 February 2003

| designation1_number = 1286{{Cite web|title=Turberas de Talamanca|website=Ramsar Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1286|accessdate=7 May 2020}}}}

| embedded2 = {{designation list | embed=yes

| designation1 = WHS

| designation1_offname = Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park

| designation1_date = 1983 (7th session)

| designation1_type = Natural

| designation1_criteria = vii, viii, ix, x

| designation1_number = [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/205bis 205bis]

| designation1_free1name = Region

| designation1_free1value = Latin America and the Caribbean

| designation1_free2name = Extensions

| designation1_free2value = 1990

}}

}}

Tapantí - Cerro de la Muerte Massif National Park, ({{langx|es|Parque Nacional Tapantí - Macizo Cerro de la Muerte}}), is a national park in the Central Conservation Area of Costa Rica located on the edge of the Talamanca Range, near Cartago. It protects forests to the north of Chirripó National Park, and also contains part of the Orosí River. The area known as Cerro de la Muerte Massif was added to the park on January 14, 2000.

The southwest border of the protected area corresponds partially to the Route 2, {{lang|es|Carretera Interamericana Sur}} (South Inter-American Highway), the Los Quetzales National Park and Los Santos Forest Reserve are located the other side of this road.

Flora and fauna

The park covers {{convert|583.20|km2|sqmi}} and two life zones: lower montane rain forest and pre-montane rain forest. These forests provide habitat for some 45 mammal species, including the Baird's tapir, kinkajou, white-faced capuchin monkey, paca, agouti, ocelot, and jaguarundi. The park's 400 bird species include sparrow hawks, resplendent quetzals, emerald toucanets, and violaceous trogons. There are 28 species of reptiles and amphibians, and a large insect population that includes the thysania agrippina, the largest moth on the American continent.{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for this whole paragraph|date=November 2013}}

In 2009, three new species of Lepanthes orchids were discovered in the park, which is so far their only known habitat. All three species, L. graciosa, L. machogaffensis, and L. pelvis, are miniature orchids and neither is longer than 5 mm. They were discovered by a team from the Lankester Botanical Garden and the University of Costa Rica.{{cite news|title= Halladas 3 nuevas especies de orquídeas miniatura en Tapantí|first= Alejandra|last= Vargas|language= Spanish|newspaper= La Nación|date= January 18, 2010|url= http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2010/enero/18/aldea2197805.html|trans-title= 3 new species of miniature orchids found in Tapantí|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100121135524/http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2010/enero/18/aldea2197805.html|archivedate= January 21, 2010}}

== Ramsar site ==

Part of the {{lang|es|Turberas de Talamanca}} Ramsar site is located within this protected area and shared with Chirripó National Park, Los Quetzales National Park, Macho River Forest Reserve, Vueltas Hill Biological Reserve and Los Santos Forest Reserve.{{cite web |title=Turberas de Talamanca Map |url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/633/pictures/CR1286map.pdf |publisher=Ramsar |accessdate=7 May 2020}}

References

{{reflist}}