Sanctuaire de faune et de flore de Guanenta Alto Río Fonce, Nature sanctuary in Santander and Boyacá departments, Colombia
The Santuario de Fauna y Flora Guanentá Alto Río Fonce is a protected area in the Santander and Boyacá departments of Colombia, set in the high Andes. It covers oak forests, cloud forests, and open moorland called páramo, with the landscape shifting as the altitude rises.
The area was placed under government protection in 1993, at a time when Colombia was working to safeguard its mountain ecosystems from logging and farming pressure. Before that, the oak forests and páramo had been reduced in size over many decades.
The frailejones, tall plants with silver leaves and yellow flowers, are a familiar sight at high elevation and have long been part of life for nearby communities. Visitors walking through the area can see how these plants collect moisture from the clouds and feed the streams that local people depend on.
Access is by rough mountain roads that need a sturdy vehicle, and conditions can change quickly depending on the weather. Warm, waterproof clothing and solid footwear are needed, as temperatures can drop sharply even during the day.
The sanctuary holds Colombia's largest oak forests, with trees that have largely disappeared from other parts of the country. These same forests sit at the headwaters of the Río Fonce, so the water that falls here eventually flows far down into the lowlands.
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