Reserva natural estricta San Antonio, Nature reserve in Misiones, Argentina

Reserva Natural Estricta San Antonio is a strictly protected forest area in Misiones province, Argentina, near the borders with Brazil and Paraguay. The land is densely wooded, with Parana pine trees standing above a thick layer of native vegetation that covers most of the ground.

The reserve was created in 1990 by official decree to protect one of the rarest forest types in South America from further logging. By that time, the Parana pine forest in Misiones had already been heavily reduced by decades of land clearing.

The reserve is closed to visitors, so its culture is that of the surrounding settlers: the edible seeds of the curí or Paraná pine (Araucaria angustifolia), up to 30 m tall, are gathered by local people. The Guaraní name Tupá-sy, "God", survives in the Rolador waterfall just outside the reserve, in the area planned for its future enlargement.

The reserve is closed to the general public and only open for approved scientific work. Anyone wishing to enter should contact the relevant Argentine conservation authorities in advance to understand the conditions that apply.

This area has no dry season at all, with rain falling fairly evenly throughout the year. That constant moisture is what allows some plant species here to survive that cannot be found anywhere else in Argentina.