AGUARO NATIONAL PARK – GUARIQUITO

The fantastic representative mosaic of the most important natural areas of Venezuela was not as complete as a whole until a part of the extraordinary landscape of the plain was incorporated into the system of National Parks of Venezuela.

These immense flat lands occupy an enormous geographic space, which supposes more than a third of the territorial area of the country, and are covered mainly by savanna vegetation and deciduous forests. There are also gallery forests that run parallel to the numerous rivers, streams and canals; rain forests with valuable timber species, morichales, estuaries or seasonal lagoons, banks, shallows, dunes and an extraordinary variety of plant and animal communities that inhabit the different natural environments.

In Venezuela the savanna acquires a preeminent position for its great extension, since it includes part of the States Guárico, Cojedes, Apure, Anzoátegui, Monagas, Barinas and Portuguesa; for being the main frame in which the cattle economy develops; because of its high biotic potential, and because of its dynamic ecology, frequently altered and modified by the anthropic action inherent in population growth.

In 1974, the National Government, through Decree No. 1686 dated March 7, created the Aguaro-Guariquito National Park on an extension of lands located south of the Guárico State, in the jurisdiction of the municipalities of Las Mercedes del Llano and Miranda. This large plain park comprises 569,000 Ha., Which places it, by its size, second in the National Parks of Venezuela.

It was therefore essential that a sample of this natural formation be protected under the National Park regime, in order to preserve forever its original conditions for the benefit of present and future generations.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Historical review
The fantastic representative mosaic of the most important natural areas of Venezuela was not as complete as a whole until a part of the extraordinary landscape of the plain was incorporated into the system of National Parks of Venezuela. These immense flat lands occupy an enormous geographic space, which supposes more than a third of the territorial area of the country, and are covered mainly by savanna vegetation and deciduous forests. There are also gallery forests that run parallel to the numerous rivers, streams and canals; rain forests with valuable timber species, morichales, estuaries or seasonal lagoons, banks, shallows, dunes and an extraordinary variety of plant and animal communities that inhabit the different natural environments.

Decrees

Reason

No. and Date

Creation:
1,686 de fehca 07/03/1974 / GO 30.349 dated 11/03/1974.
to download

Altimetry
34-225

Weather
The forest is warm rainy.

Temperature
28º C – 38º C

Precipitation (mm)
1,200 – 2,000 mm.

Water resources
Ríos Aguaro, Faldisquera, San Bartolo, Guariquito, Caujarito.

state
Guárico

State

Superfice (Ha)

Guárico

585,750

100

Total Area (Ha)

585,750

Public consultation
Yes

Date of the Public Consultation workshops
26 AL 28/01/94
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Geological and Geomorphological Information
Geographically it belongs to the llanera region. It has a low relief, uniform with few elevations as small terraces adjacent to the water courses. There are abundant characteristic environments formed by sandbanks, shallows, estuaries and morichales. Areas with dunes of white sand are located, which have a slow displacement in the direction of the west. The dynamics of this park, is marked by its climatic characteristics, with a period of drought followed by another period of rain, which floods large areas of it. Presents a landscape of open plain, with low relief, very uniform, with its small elevations terraces, adjacent to the water courses. In it are located areas with white sand dunes, which have a slow movement in the direction of the west. Life here is marked by the implacable drought and by the rains that often, if not always, flood extensive llaneras regions. The landscape presents numerous rivers, pipes, morichales and lagoons as well as immense savannahs, where the view is not enough to see everything. Many springs are born inside the park that feed the Guariquito, Aguaro, Faldisquera, San Bartolo and San José rivers.

Vegetation
In the park there is a vegetation of underdeveloped grasses and insectivorous sundews. There are also deciduous, gallery and morichales forests parallel to the watercourses.

Flora
The palm moriche -mauritia flexulosa imposes everywhere, we observe trees up to 25v meters, always developing in very humid places the llanera palm Copenicia tectorum, the saladillo Caraipasavanarum and the conger Sclerolobium aureum.

Fauna
Due to the abundance of water in the numerous rivers, pipes and lagoons, there is a variety of aquatic species such as the cichla ocellaris peacock, the Colossoma sp. Cachama, the Piaractus brachypomun morocho, the Electrophorus electricus shaker, the Serrasalmussp caribbean, the Prochilodus mariae coporo , the striped catfish Pseudopñatystoma fasciatum among others. Among the mammals include the chigüire Hydrochaeris Hydrochaeris, the monkey araguato Aloutta seniculus, the palmetto bear Myrmecophaga tridactyla, the cahicamo Dasypus novemcintus, the cousin or giant armadillo Priodontes giganteus, caramerudo deer Odocoileus virginiarus. You can get felines such as the Panthera Onca tiger, the Felis Color cougar, the leopardus pardalis bassinet. It is remarkable the presence of the dolphin or river dolphins Inia geoffrensis,
Attractions

The main attractions of this park are given in the benefits offered by its nature, typical of bush savannah with bushes, riverside forests and Llaneros landscapes of banks, shallows and estuaries. The hydric tributaries can not be appreciated in all their extension, through the rivers Aguaro, Faltriquera, San Bartolo, Mocapra, Guariquito and San José of the Orinoco river basin. Another great attraction is the varied and abundant flora that meanders the trees and the banks of the rivers, possessing a great color. Some of them are the grasses, ciperáceas, legumes and rubiáceas.

LOCATION

Schedule
They are not established.

Location from the Nearest City
The Aguaro Guariquito National Park is located in the Central Plains, south of the Guárico State, covering part of the Miranda and Las Mercedes del Llano municipalities.

How to get
Following the road that goes from San Juan de los Morros to Las Mercedes del Llano and Cabruta. It can also be reached via Calabozo-El Calvario and Cazorla.
RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations for the Visitor
The best time to visit the park is in summer, which begins at the end of November until May approximately, during winter most of it is flooded and its access is difficult. Travel only through the established paths or paths. Be sure to take the appropriate measures before camping. Park the vehicles in the established parking areas. Use gas stoves and biodegradable detergents or soaps.

Forbidden activities
Hunting wild animals, lighting fires, extracting species of plants and animals, leaving or throwing solid waste, mark or cause damage to vegetation, carry firearms or any other that may cause damage to natural resources, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages , introduce exotic species of wild animals, make or fix commercial or political advertisements, use of sound equipment that disturb the tranquility of the park, use insecticides, pour any kind of water in the watercourses, take photographs or filming for commercial purposes without the previous authorization, fishing for commercial purposes.