Parque provincial El Tromen

Parque provincial El Tromen is a high-altitude wetland reserve in Neuquén Province that protects extensive marshlands, lagoons, and volcanic terrain across the Andes. The reserve encompasses different zones with water bodies and plains shaped by volcanic activity over time.

The reserve was established in the early 1970s as a protected area and received international recognition in 2006 as an important wetland site. This designation reflected growing understanding of the area's ecological value for birds and water systems.

The park occupies land traditionally connected to Mapuche communities, with archaeological remains scattered across the high plateau showing how people lived here long ago. These ancient sites and the surrounding landscape tell stories of sustained settlement in this remote mountain region.

The reserve is accessible from nearby towns and offers excellent opportunities to watch water birds on the lagoons and wetlands. The best time to visit is during warmer months when birds are most active and trails are easier to navigate.

The reserve is home to a lizard species found nowhere else in the world, living only in this mountain region. This rare creature represents the exceptional biological diversity that exists in this remote highland ecosystem.