Santiago Metropolitan Park, Urban park in Santiago, Chile
Santiago Metropolitan Park is an urban park in Santiago, Chile, that covers multiple hills and links recreational areas with native vegetation. The grounds include trails of varying difficulty, lookout points and leisure facilities scattered across the wooded slopes.
The transformation of the land into a public park began in the 1920s after the city acquired the land to give residents access to the hills. Before that, a private observatory had already occupied part of the heights and conducted astronomical observations.
The statue of the Virgin Mary at the summit overlooks the entire city and forms the centerpiece of a pilgrimage site that believers have visited for more than a century. On weekends, families arrive with picnic baskets and look for shade under the trees on the slopes below the statue.
Visitors can reach the park on foot via trails or ride a funicular railway to the higher sections, while a cable car connects additional stops near the summit. In summer, swimming pools open at two different elevations and offer refreshment after hikes or longer walks.
The zoo within the park participates in breeding programs for threatened Chilean animal species and cares for animals rescued from illegal captivity. Some enclosures allow visitors to see animals up close, including species found in other parts of South America.
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