The Serranía la Neblina National Park was decreed on December 12, 1978. It covers an area of 1,360,000 hectares. located in the southernmost part of the Venezuelan territory, in the jurisdiction of the Rio Negro department of the Amazonas Federal Territory, bordering the Republic of Brazil, between coordinates 0º37 and 1º50 of North latitude and 69º12-66º32 of West longitude.
Cerro La Neblina, 3,014 meters above sea level, is the highest elevation of the South American continents east of the Cordilleras of the Andes. Its name comes from the constant cloudiness that covers the mountains.
The relief has deep valleys, among which is the Canyon Grande Baria River. Its structure presents folds that belong to the Roraima formation (Precambrian) and it is fundamentally of strata of sandstone, although it presents igneous rocks of the Granitic Complex of Amazonas. The temperature varies between 8ºC and 27ºC, the rains are abundant, exceeding 3,000 mm. Annual rainfall, and the most important rivers are the Baria, Yatua and Siapa, all tributaries to the Casiquiare arm.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Historical review
The Serranía la Neblina National Park was decreed on December 12, 1978. It covers an area of 1,360,000 hectares. located in the southernmost part of the Venezuelan territory, in the jurisdiction of the Rio Negro department of the Amazonas Federal Territory, bordering the Republic of Brazil, between coordinates 0º37 ‘and 1º50′ of North latitude and 69º12’-66º32 ‘of West longitude.Cerro La Neblina, 3,014 meters above sea level, is the highest elevation of the South American continents east of the Cordilleras of the Andes. Its name comes from the constant cloudiness that covers the mountains.
The relief has deep valleys, among which is the Canyon Grande Baria River. Its structure presents folds that belong to the Roraima formation (Precambrian) and it is fundamentally of strata of sandstone, although it presents igneous rocks of the Granitic Complex of Amazonas. The temperature varies between 8ºC and 27ºC, the rains are abundant, exceeding 3,000 mm. Annual rainfall, and the most important rivers are the Baria, Yatua and Siapa, all tributaries to the Casiquiare arm.
Decrees
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No. and Date
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Creation: |
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2.979 dated 12/12/1978 / GO 2.417-E dated 07/03/1979. |
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Altimetry
500-3,040
Weather
Warm rain forest of amazonian type.
Temperature
8º C – 27º C
Precipitation (mm)
2,600 – 3,600 mm.
state
Amazon
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State
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Superfice (Ha)
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%
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Amazon
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1,360,000
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100
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Total Area (Ha)
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1,360,000
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NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Geological and Geomorphological Information
At the southern end of the Venezuelan territory, one of the geographical features and one of the most impressive natural regions of the country is located. The Serrania La Neblina reaches the highest elevation in the South American continent, it is located east of the Andes Mountain Range. Geologically, the upper part that forms the massif belongs to the Roraima formation of Precambrian age. It is constituted mainly by strata of sandstone and quartzite. Unlike the other mountains of sandstone that in general have their flat summit and horizontal strata, the strata of Cerro La Neblina are folded in such a way that the surface of the hill shows deep valleys and sharp peaks, having along its main axis a valley known as the Big Canyon of the Baría River, one of the deepest in the world.
Vegetation
The vegetation is very varied and presents an accentuated endemism in each summit, this is due to the isolation and extreme conditions to which the plants are subjected as well as the limited genetic exchange with similar populations in other areas: it is estimated that more than 50% of the species found at the top of La Neblina are endemic. On the mountain tops there are scrub forest with extensive carpets of moss and carnivorous plants such as Heliamphora sp., Numerous orchids and an endemic species, the Neblinaria celiae, shrub that is only known in this Park. Among the dominant species are the Heliamphoras, carnivorous jug-shaped plants, large size and species of Rapataceae, Bromeliaceae, Xyridaceae and Orquidaceae. There are also sphagnum moss rugs characteristic of the acid soils of the region. Other endemic genera of the Cerro La Neblina are the Neblinaceae, Glossarion, Guaicia, Maquireocharis, Cephalodendro, Neblinathammus, Pyrrorhiza and Neblinanthera. In the lower sectors there is the characteristic formation of the tropical humid forest.
Fauna
It is known that there are more than 102 species of mammals such as tapirus tapirus terrestris, leopardus pardalis, jaguar Panthera onca and several species of monkeys. In this group three new species were discovered: a bat of the genus Histiotus, a marsupial Marmosa impavida and a mouse of the genus Rhipidomys. They have come to collect 60 different species of bats. Among the ophidians are the emerald boa Corallus enidrys, the anaconda Eunectes murinus and the green emerald Bothrops bilineatus smaragdinus. The birds are represented by 300 species among which the black-billed climber Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchos and the nocturnal paují Nothocrax urumutum are envisioned. One of the most diverse groups is the ants that play an important role in the ecosystem, modifying the soil, transporting nutrients and acting as predators. They also represent an appreciable biomass without mentioning their role in seed dispersal and their close association with some plants and other insects.
For this region between 500 and 1,000 species belonging to this group of insects are calculated. New species of Microleptidópteros (micromariposas) have been reported, the Odonata represented by 14 families, 67 genera and 162 species with 8 completely new genera for Venezuela and 28 new species for science. Among the fish, a recently discovered endemic corronch known as Neblinichthys pillosus is interesting, which is characterized by the presence of a group of long bristles at the front end of the head and which is arranged as a brush.
LOCATION
Schedule
They are not established.
Location from the Nearest City
The Serranía la Neblina National Park is in the extreme south of the Amazonas State, between the La Neblina and the Imeri Mountains in the South, the Siapa River in the North and the Arara and Baría Rivers in the East-West direction, in the Río Negro Municipality.
How to get
By river, following the waters of the Orinoco and Casiquiare rivers. You can also arrive by helicopter to San Carlos de Río Negro.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations for the Visitor
Because it is a very restricted area with a fragile ecosystem, it is recommended not to alter, damage or mistreat the plant or fauna resources present there. Visit the park in the company of a guide or connoisseur of the area.
Forbidden activities
Light fires. Extraction or introduction of plant and animal species. Leave or throw solid waste. Mark or cause damage to vegetation. Hunting. Carry firearms or any other that may cause damage to natural resources. Expenditure and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Enter the park without proper authorization. Take photographs or films for commercial purposes without prior authorization.