Santuario de la naturaleza Cajón del río Achibueno, Nature reserve in Linares Province, Chile
The Cajón del río Achibueno sanctuary is a protected area in the Maule Region that covers a river valley with narrow gorges and forest sections stretching across several thousand hectares. Water flows down from the high mountains through the canyon, fed by seasonal snowmelt from peaks above the tree line.
The area received official protection status in 2015 when the Chilean government designated it as a nature sanctuary through a presidential decree. This designation was significant because it protected an entire watershed system rather than just a specific landmark.
You can see ancient rock carvings left by the Chiquillanes, an indigenous nomadic group that lived in these mountains long ago. These marks on the stone tell the story of people who made their lives in this mountain valley for generations.
The sanctuary entrance is located about 20 kilometers southeast of Linares and can be reached by car or on foot using marked trails. Bring sturdy hiking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing, as conditions in the canyon change rapidly and steepness varies along the routes.
The reserve is home to six native fish species found nowhere else in the world, all adapted to the cold mountain streams that flow through the gorge. These fish are rarely glimpsed by visitors but indicate the health and integrity of the watershed system.
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