Copo National Park

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Copo National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location:	Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina
Area:	1142.5 km²
Established:	1998
Governing body:	Administración de Parques Nacionales

The Copo National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the Copo Department, province of Santiago del Estero. It has an area of 1142.5 km². It was created in 1998 in order to preserve a number of endangered species.

The park belongs to the Dry Chaco ecosystem. The climate is warm, with annual rainfall between 500 and 700 mm. A large part of it is made up of forest, with the Santiago red quebracho (quebracho colorado santiagueño) being its characteristic tree species. This tree has a strong wood and high content of tannin, and in the past it suffered a devastating exploitation in other parts of the country. At the beginning of the 20th century, Santiago del Estero was 80% quebracho scrubland; nowadays only 20% remain.

Endangered species that live in this park include the yaguareté (jaguar), the Giant Anteater, the tatú carreta (a species of armadillo) and a species of parrot.