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LAGUNA DE LOS POZUELOS
NATURAL MONUMENT
Province of Jujuy
Pozuelos Natural Monument
which includes the lake only, is in the puna of Jujuy province, surrounded
by the localities of Rinconada, Pozuelos, Lagunillas, Cieneguillas and
Yoscaba. It has a surface area of 15,000 ha and is some 3,600 meters above
sea level. between low mountain chains. Because of its importance to waterbirds
this was declared a RAMSAR site and listed as an internationally important
wetland.
NATURE
IN POZUELOS
The area of
the lake reflects the precipitation and fluctuates greatly from almost
completely dry (100 ha) to 15,000 when full. It concentrates a varied
and abundant congregation of waterbirds of some 44 species, the reason
for its protection. The most colourful denizens are the flamingos whose
numbers can reach some 25,000. They nest on the lake on nests built up
of mud shaped in a truncated conical form, and colonially. They lay but
one egg, rarely two. The flamingo's strange beak is adapted to filter
the water for minute crustaceans and other organisms. The three species
which are found in the Puna are the andean, James's and the Chilean, the
first two exclusively high andean birds and both endangered. They avoid
competition between species for food by selecting their different diets.
At the mouth of the Cincel river there are usually great concentrations
of ducks such as the brown pintail, the puna form of the speckled teal
and the puna teal, this last with a blue bill, which nests in the taller
grasses not too far from water. Cinnamon teal, crested ducks and others
are also found in other habitats.
There are three species of coot - andean, horned and giant. These waterbirds
feed mainly on waterplants, but also small invertebrates and the occasional
fish. Their frontal shields are the best characteristic for their identification.
The giant builds its nest up from the bottom, a pile of stones, pebbles
and waterweed.
Shorebirds, with their long, thin bills and long legs, feed on small invertebrates,
larvae and some plant matter. Some species visit the park from their nesting
grounds in the Arctic. Others are locals, residents or migratory from
the south. The puna plover and the diademed sandpiper-plover are the locals,
preferring bogs and sandy shores. Another wander is the andean lapwing,
noisy and aggressive. The andean avocet has a fine, upturned bill for
capturing micro-organisms at the surface. Its call is a strident yap.
HOW
TO GET THERE
From Jujuy
up the Humahuaca valley to Abra Pampa (218 km) along route 9. Thence west
along route 7 for some 50 km. From La Quiaca through Cieneguillas (route
5), then 69 and later 7 to the southern part where the ranger station
is located. Crossing the bridge there is a track (suitable for cars) northwards
to the shore of the lake. Another track leads in to the lake from the
west a little way north of Lagunillas school and chapel.
OF
INTEREST
There are
no facilities in or near the park. Abra Pampa is the nearest place for
anything. Take bird-scopes or binoculars and a bird-book. Some wayside
panels have birds illustrated on them to aid in identification.
Thanks to APN - Administración
de Parques Nacionales
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