Tortuguero National Park
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| Tortuguero National Park | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
| Location: | Costa Rica |
| Nearest city: | Tortuguero |
| Area: | 312 km² |
| Established: | 1975 |
| Governing body: | National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) |
Tortuguero National Park is a National Park within the Tortuguero Conservation Area. The reserve is also included in the Humedal Caribe Noreste, a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.[1] The park is located in the Limón Province of northeastern Costa Rica. It is the third-most visited park in Costa Rica, despite the fact that it can only be reached by airplane or boat.[2]
The park has incredible biological variety, due to the existence within the reserve of eleven different habitats, including rainforest, swamps, beaches, and lagoons. It is located in a tropical climate, is very humid, and receives up to 250 inches of rain a year.
The park is located on the Caribbean coast, and its beaches are key nesting ground for endangered sea turtles, such as Hawksbill, Loggerheads, Green and Leatherbacks. The rivers within the park are home to sensitive populations of manatees, as well as caimans, crocodiles, and Tropical Gar, which is considered a living fossil. The forests are home to jaguars, three species of monkeys (spider, howler, and white-faced Capuchin), and three-toed sloths. Basilisk lizards and poisonous frogs also inhabit the area, along with 375 species of birds including kingfishers, toucans, blue herons, peacocks, and parrots. There are more than 400 species of trees and approximately 2,200 species of plants.
There are a number of facilities at the park, such as Cuatro Esquinas Headquarters in the village of Tortuguero, in the northern part of the park. The Sector Jalova Station is further south near Jalova Lagoon and the town of Parismina. Aguas Frias Station is on the western edge close to the town of Cariari.
North of the park is the smaller Dr. Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge and then the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge. The latter refuge contains habitats similar similar to those found in Tortuguero National Park, although much of that refuge is even less accessible. To the south the park is bordered by the Parismina River and the Cariari National Wetlands. The park has worked with the neighboring village of Tortuguero to help its inhabitants understand that preserving their natural resources is the key to burgeoning eco-tourism.
[edit] References
- ^ The List of Wetlands of International Importance (PDF). The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (2006-07-13). Retrieved on 2006-07-14.
- ^ Tortuguero National Park. Costa Rica. World Headquarters. Retrieved on 2006-07-14.
[edit] External links
- Tortuguero National Park at Costa Rica National Parks
