Nevado Tres Cruces National Park, Mountain national park in Provincia de Copiapó, Chile.
Nevado Tres Cruces is a national park in Chile's Atacama Region, east of Copiapó, split into two sectors between the Domeyko and Claudio Gay ranges. The northern sector holds the southern part of the Salar de Maricunga and Laguna Santa Rosa at 3,700 m; the southern sector, higher still, is dominated by Laguna del Negro Francisco at 4,126 m. The park is named after the Nevado Tres Cruces massif, and the Ojos del Salado volcano rises nearby.
The park was created to protect the high-Andean ecosystem and its sparse flora and fauna. Its subsoil was declared a scientific site of interest for mining purposes by Supreme Decree No. 947 of 29 July 1994, published on 8 November 1994; mining work there requires written permission from the President and the Minister of Mining. The park is managed by CONAF, which keeps refuges at Laguna Santa Rosa and Laguna del Negro Francisco.
The park is home to wildlife adapted to extreme heights, including guanacos and rare bird species. Local communities have inhabited the surrounding valleys for generations and maintain traditional ways of life in these high regions.
The best time to visit is during the warmer months, as the high elevation creates very cold conditions. Visitors should be prepared for uneven terrain and bring appropriate gear for extreme conditions.
Laguna del Negro Francisco is split into two portions of different colours, a detail noted in Chilean park sources. The park's subsurface is also a scientific-interest zone for mining under Decree 947 of 29 July 1994, so extraction there needs written presidential and mining-ministry permission.
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