Reserva Provincial La Payunia

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View from space of the Payún Matrú volcano

The Reserva Provincial La Payunia (Spanish: La Payunia Provincial Reserve) also known as Payún or Payén is a natural reserve located in the Malargüe Department to the south of the Mendoza Province about 160 km away from Malargüe city. It was declared as nature preserve in 1988 and has an area of 4,500 km².

La Payunia is home to the many volcanic cones, being noteworthy the Payún Matrú volcano.

[edit] Biodiversity

Adesmia pinifolia in the Mendoza Province

Flora:

The Flora is represented by matorrales, prairies, native mountain species and other typical patagonian plants such as Adesmia pinifolia, Festuca pallescens, Grandelia chiloensis, Ephedra ochreata miers, Neosparton ephedroides grisebach, Psila spartioides, Prosopis denudaes (between 500 and 1,300 m AMSL) and Schinus poligamun and Larrea nítida cavanilles (between 1,800 and 2,850 m AMSL).

Guanacos in the south of Argentina

Fauna:

The Fauna is represented by 70 registered species until now, the most common are Vultur gryphus, Puma concolor, Bothrops alternatus, Rhea pennata, Lama guanicoe and Pseudalopex griseus.

[edit] Geography

The area is covered by many little volcanoes and the biggest are Payún Matrú, Payún Liso and Santa María. Volcanic ash forms a black terrain known as Pampas Negras (Spanish: Black Pampas).

The Grande River flows in the zone across volcanic rocks cracks.