Ciénagas de Juan Manuel National Park, National park in Zulia state, Venezuela
Ciénagas de Juan Manuel is a protected wetland area in western Zulia stretching between the plains and Lake Maracaibo, containing numerous channels, rivers, and lagoons across flat terrain. The park covers an extensive region with water systems and swampland that shape the landscape.
The government designated this area as a national park in 1991, protecting a large region in western Venezuela from development. This decision was part of efforts to preserve the wetland ecosystem.
Local fishermen consider the dolphins living in the park's waters as sacred beings and actively protect them through their daily work. This reverence shapes how residents interact with the ecosystem around them.
The park is accessible from Maracaibo through several routes, with road connections to nearby towns and boat access via the lake available. Plan your visit during drier months when pathways are easier to navigate.
The area experiences one of the world's highest concentrations of lightning strikes per square kilometer, with electrical storms occurring over 200 nights annually. This intense weather phenomenon makes it a remarkable natural event that scientists study closely.
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