Ñacunday National Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ñacunday National Park is a national park, located in the district of Ñacunday, Alto Paraná, in Paraguay, situated between the latitude 26°03’ and longitude 54°42’. It covers an area of 20 square kilometres.
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[edit] Main goal
Its main goal is accomplishing the protection of the region’s flora and fauna, preserving the native resources and geographic regions, and the beauty of the Salto Ñacunday (waterfall).
[edit] Climate
The climate is sub-tropical, with abundant and well-distributed precipitations, with an average of 1,500 to 1,700 mm annually. The average temperature is 21.5 °C, with predominant winds from the north, which corresponds to the geographic location of the Brazilian Rainy Forest.
[edit] Flora
The predominant vegetation of the Park is a forest conformed primarily by trees that usually reach 15 to 20 meters of high, with abundant specimens of the Meliaceae family, such as: the cedar (Cedrela fissilis), Katigua Pytâ (Trichilla catigua); Palmae family: Palmito (Euterpe edulis); and Myrtaceae family: Ñangapiry (Eugenia enflora), Yvaporaity (Myrciaria rivularis). Secondly by a forest of tall tress of wide leaves. This kind of forest is easily recognized because of its general appearance, with trees that can reach 35 meters of high, with predominance of the Leguiminosae family, such as: the Yvyrá Pytâ (Peltophorum dubium), Yvyrá ro (Pterogyne nitens); the Boraginaceae family: Petereby (Cordia dichotoma); and the Moraceae family: Tatajyva (Cholorophora tinctoria) and Amba’y (Cecropia pachystachya trécul). Aside from these forests, the park also has a riparian forest, with smaller specimens, mostly of the Euphorbiaceae family. It also has, a diversity of ferns and orchids.
[edit] Fauna
All different species of animals, such as mammals, birds, rodents and reptiles live in the area of the park. The park also protects a stretch of the Ñacunday River, which, because of its length and volume, is habitat for a rich variety of fishes, especially in the area of its outlet to the Paraná River.
[edit] Hydrography
The park protects the sources of water, streams, a stretch of the Ñacunday River and the Salto Ñacunday, a waterfall about 40 meters high. This river provides water to the Mbyá Guaraní establishments of the area for their daily activities, and sometimes it is also used for recreation purposes.
[edit] Tourism
This park is distinctive because its unique beautiful landscape provided by the Salto Ñacunday, which is the most important waterfall in the country, after the now disappeared Salto del Guairá. The waterfall is about 40 meters high and 70 meters long, and is located 1,000 meters before the outlet to the Paraná River. Right under the waterfall there is an island that was formed with time, by the logs of wood that fell down the precipice. In spite of not having a tourist program, the number of visitants, Paraguayan and foreign, is increasing, especially in the summer.
[edit] Legal aspect
The Ñacunday National Park, located on 26°03’ latitude South and 54°42’ longitude West, with an area of 20 km². It was created in the category of Ñacunday Protector Forest, by decree N° 17.071 on August 20, 1975 with an extension of 10 km², including the Salto Ñacunday and was later expanded by decree N° 16.146 on January 18, 1993, including some modifications. These modifications refer to the creation of the Ñacunday National Park with 20 km², instead of the Ñacunday Protector Forest and the Yacuy Protector Forest.
[edit] Currently
The Mbya Guaraní (who live in the park) natives are the ones who mostly use it and the nearby area. They collect firewood, honey, fruits and medicinal plants; also is the natural environment where they practice their traditional ceremonies. The locals use it to do fishing and hunting of not endangered animals. The nearby area is used for agriculture and in less proportion for cattle.
[edit] Access
The access to the park is through a route that goes from Ciudad del Este to Los Cedrales, a paved road to the Municipality that becomes after, a dirt road. It is 90 km away. From Ciudad del Este, another access is through route N° 6, which communicates Ciudad del Este with Encarnación.
