Radal Siete Tazas National Park, Nature reserve in Maule Region, Chile
Radal Siete Tazas is a national park in Curicó Province in Chile that covers roughly 5,000 hectares of protected land dominated by mountain forest with volcanic bedrock. The river Claro de Molina runs through the area and shapes several natural water pools and waterfalls set between steep basalt cliffs.
The area was created in 1981 as a Tourist Protection Area and was declared a national park on 27 March 2008, managed by CONAF. The 27 February 2010 earthquake left the Siete Tazas pools dry after water drained through a fissure in the riverbed; sediment carried by the following winter's rains sealed the permeable layer and the Claro River gradually regained its usual flow.
The river Claro de Molina carved seven successive pools through volcanic rock over centuries, shaping formations that still resemble large natural bowls today. Trails follow the waterfalls through dense forest where visitors hear the rushing water from different angles and witness the power of erosion firsthand.
The park opens from Tuesday through Sunday between 8:30 in the morning and 4:30 in the afternoon, with entrance tickets to be purchased online in advance. Paths to the waterfalls can become slippery when wet, so sturdy footwear is recommended, and during winter months access may be limited.
Kayakers descend the 1 to 10.5 metre falls of the Siete Tazas canyon, and once inside the steep gorge the only way out is down; at the end they must paddle quickly to shore to avoid the 40 metre El Velo de Novia waterfall before hiking out. Visitors watch from platforms above the canyon.
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