Malalcahuello-Nalcas, Nature reserve in Araucanía Region, Chile.
Malalcahuello-Nalcas is a nature reserve in the Araucanía Region featuring volcanic landscapes and dense forests of araucaria trees growing on sandy soils. The area is shaped by the Lonquimay and Tolhuaca volcanoes, whose slopes and surroundings define the reserve's terrain.
The area was intensively used in the 1950s with large-scale forest logging before later being protected to preserve the remaining ecosystems. This shift marked a turning point in safeguarding the natural resources.
The Mapuche communities have deep roots in this mountain region and continue to shape daily life here through their traditions and connection to the land. Visitors can sense this living presence in the villages and through encounters with local people.
The administrative center in Malalcahuello village is the starting point for various hiking routes, including a circuit around the Lonquimay volcano. Visitors should expect changeable mountain weather and bring appropriate gear.
The Navidad Crater formed during a volcanic eruption on December 25, 1988, and is a distinctive geological formation that visitors often overlook. This young crater demonstrates the still-active volcanic processes in the region.
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