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RESERVA NATURAL OTAMENDI
Province of Buenos Aires
This
natural area has been protected by National Parks since 1990. It cover
some 2700 ha and is situated on the banks of the Paraná de las
Palmas river some 70 Km out of Buenos Aires along route 9 at Ing. Rómulo
Otamendi, (near Campana).
NATURAL
ASPECTS
There are three
habitats represented in the reserve. Down by the river is the riverine
forest with medium-sized trees such as the coral tree with its scarlet
flowers in Spring, native willows and others. The solitary black cacique
is typical of these stands where it builds its hanging nest, the rufous-capped
antshrike and the dusky-legged guan.
There follows an extensive flood-plain with the various types of rushes
and grasses - some small, some huge - where the larger species of the
fauna are to be seen; capybaras, the very threatened marsh deer. Among
the birds of this habitat are the wren-like rush-bird, the many-coloured
rush tyrant, the scarlet-headed blackbird, rails and all manner of waterbirds
on the patches of open water. Here too a gamut of species of batracians
includes the native edible frog. Floating plants such as duck-weeds and
water hyacinth (here in its native land and therefore no problem) occupy
their appointed places. On the higher areas of these plains the short
hog's-hair grass is interrupted by patches of Carex sedge, the home of
the rare straight-billed reedhaunter and Hudson's canastero.
On the old shoreline of the Paraná, a steep bank is where the tala
(Celtis) woods grow. The masked gnatcatcher and the narrow-billed woodcreeper
are here as also the local white-bellied oppossum. Behind these woods
there is a tiny remnant of the once-pampas grasslands with its typical
flora of arrow-grasses and such, occupied by the grassland yellowfinch,
seen in its courtship flutter-flight singing its fast and varied song
in Spring.
CULTURAL
ASPECTS
The reserve has
the remains of precolombian settlements where fisherfolk of the hunter-gatherers
congregated on slight mounds in the low area of the park. Evidence of
their dependence on the aquatic resources is found in the abundance of
harpoon-points made of bone; the remains of the armoured catfish and of
a water rodent, the coypu. Dating these remains has given an age of from
1000 BC to 1500 AD. On the steep bank there are the remains of a colonial
settlement. From the quality of the tyles it is thought to be the site
of the homestead of wealthy settlers, probably that of Juan de Melo or
his descendants, the Urien, Chevez or Martínez families. At the
time the area was important for the existence of the port of Tajiber.
HOW TO
GET THERE
Route 9 to Ing.
Romulo Otamendi between Escobar (south) and Campana (north), at approximately
the Km 69 mile-post. Down the main street of this village for 2 km one
arrives at the gate of the reserve. There is a train service from Retiro
mainline station of the Mitre line, changing trains at Villa Ballester.
OF INTEREST
TO THE VISITORJust
inside the reserve are the parking area and the administrative buildings.
Rest rooms and a picnic area are located here also as well as the information
desk. Several trails open the area for visitors:
* El Talar - an interpreted trail 1000 yards long explores the elevated
area of the reserve where Celtis trees grow in straight lines (find out
why from the wayside panels). It leads to an overlook of the flood-plains.
* from the overlook a short trail explores the woods on the old river-bank
* The road to the river crosses part of the park This trail known as the
Islas Malvinas road is good for dawn or dusk excursions to seek out the
native fauna. In a car or on foot.
* The Visitors Centre has a temporary exhibit on the natural aspects of
the reserve. . There may be a slide show or an interpretative talk on
also; check this.
* There is a nursery garden specialising in production of native trees
such as Tabebuias, coral trees the Ombu (Phytolacca), with a view to encouraging
the planting of these in lieu of exotics in gardens and public places.
The plants are for sale.
Thanks to APN - Administración
de Parques Nacionales
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