Río Blanco National Reserve, National reserve in Los Andes Province, Chile.
Río Blanco National Reserve is a 10,175-hectare protected area in the Valparaíso Region, in the Andes east of Los Andes city, on land owned by Codelco's División Andina near Route CH-60. Its vegetation is central Chilean sclerophyll forest, with quillay, tralhuén, olivillo, palo negro and bailahuén among the recorded species.
The sources do not record a founding date for Río Blanco National Reserve; the 1932 establishment and 1950s amendments in earlier texts are unsourced. What is documented is its location: 10,175 hectares of Andean terrain east of Los Andes city in the Valparaíso Region, near Route CH-60, on land owned by Codelco's División Andina. The reserve lies about 60 kilometres northeast of Santiago.
The reserve lies on land owned by Codelco's División Andina, next to Route CH-60 east of Los Andes. Its sclerophyll forest, typical of central Chile, includes quillay, tralhuén, olivillo, palo negro and bailahuén. Visitors share the area with pumas, vizcachas, culpeo and chilla foxes, and Andean condors.
The reserve can be reached by Route 60 from Los Andes city, though visitors should prepare for limited facilities and mountain weather. A private vehicle is needed to explore the area properly, as public access infrastructure is minimal.
The reserve lies on land owned by Codelco's División Andina, next to Route CH-60 east of Los Andes. Its cliffs above the Río Blanco are where condor pairs nest and reproduce, and the same slopes hold puma, vizcacha, lauchón orejudo, culpeo and chilla foxes, águila, aguilucho, jote, chercán, loica and perdiz.
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