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 sits across a large area of the high Andes, combining different forest types and mountain grasslands as elevation changes. The landscape shows thick woodlands in lower zones that gradually give way to open plateaus with distinctive tall plants adapted to the thin air.
The sanctuary received protection in 1993 as part of Colombia's effort to safeguard mountain ecosystems from damage. This designation marked a turning point for conservation in the high Andes region.
High-altitude plants like frailejones grow throughout the sanctuary and have deep roots in the local way of life, with nearby communities involved in growing and caring for these species. The sanctuary represents how nature and people can work together in the mountains.
Getting here requires sturdy vehicles because mountain roads are rough and weather can change quickly at high elevation. Plan for a long journey and bring proper gear to handle cold and wet conditions.
The sanctuary holds Colombia's largest oak forests and protects mountain plants that grow nowhere else in the world. Visitors can see species that exist only in this remote mountain region.
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