Morro Moreno National Park, National park and nature reserve on coastal headland in Antofagasta, Chile.
Morro Moreno National Park protects the Mejillones Peninsula, a 60 km long landform that juts about 20 km into the Pacific Ocean. The park's namesake hill rises to 1,100 meters and contains five observation points, including Mirador de la Bahía at 700–950 meters, where visitors can see fog oases. The park lies 65 km north of Antofagasta and is reached via Juan López, Playa Bolsico, or Quebrada Bolsico.
In the early 2000s the Regional Biodiversity Committee, with CONAMA and the Antofagasta regional government, pushed to protect Morro Moreno, which was listed as a priority biodiversity site in 2002. CONAMA funded Environmental Protection Fund projects from 2005 to 2010. The creation decree was signed on 28 January 2010 and published on 15 April 2010, protecting the Mejillones Peninsula.
At La Aguada, on the lower slopes of the morro, stand the pircas of an indigenous settlement, probably chosen for the fresh water seeping from the cliff. The site has been badly damaged by looting. At Altos de La Aguada a viewpoint looks toward the settlement and the Punta Tetas lighthouse; the oldest settlement in the sector lay in the Quebrada de las Conchas.
The area is accessible from Antofagasta and offers several hiking trails for visitors of different fitness levels. Spring and fall months provide milder temperatures that make walking and wildlife observation more comfortable.
Coastal fog plays a special role here, supporting plant growth in the otherwise dry landscape and creating specialized habitats. This moisture from the mist is critical for species that could not otherwise survive in this desert region.
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