Administración de Parques Nacionales

PN El Leoncito (El Leoncito National Park) is an excellent place for observating stars, due its atmospheric qualities.

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA
This National Park is located in the southwest of San Juan province, in the Calingasta Department. It was created as a Strict Reserve in 1994 in order to protect representative samples of the “puneño” and “altoandino” scrublands. In 2002 the protected area became a National Park. It has a 76.000 hectares surface, and protects historic and paleontological sites (a part of the “Inca´s way” is included).
With the protected area creation, possible pollutants effects are avoided. The protected area atmospheric qualities are guaranteed.
PN El Leoncito (El Leoncito National Park) is an excellent place for observating stars, due its atmospheric qualities. There are two astronomical observatories: “El Leoncito astronomical complex” (CASLEO) -which constitutes one of the best centers of Argentina-, and the “ Dr. Carlos U. Cesco astronomical observatory”.

CULTURAL RESOURCES
In the National Park many paleontological testifies were found, such as a part of the “Inca´s way”. The protected area house the original El Leoncito farm centre.


	ACCESS PN El Leoncito (El Leoncito National Park) is located in the in the southwest of San Juan province, in the Calingasta Department. The nearest town is Barreal, and it is 34 kilometres far from the protected area. There are 93 kilometres between Uspallata City (Mendoza province) and El Leoncito National Park. You can get to the protected area by the route number 412 or -from the south- by the route number 39.

	CLIMATE The climate changes according to the zone. In the altoandina region the climate is cold and there are permanent snows. In the puna environment the climate is cold and dry, there is a big thermical amplitude. In the scrubland area the climate is dry. The annual media rains is 200 millimitre.

INTERACTIVE MAP
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	NATURAL RESOURCES Landscapes. Flora and Fauna. The National Park is located in an environmental slope. Its lands are skeletal and have incipient evolution. There are different biogeographically units. In the mountain range lower lands there are shrubs. Some species are the “retamo” and the “jarilla”. In the “Cabeceras brook” banks there are many wet environment species, such as “bobales” and “cortaderas”. In the high mountain flora there are some species such as the “ tolilla” –a shrub that hasn't leaves-, and the “ajenjo” that has aromatic leaves. In the upper land there are “altoandinas” species, such as the “ pastizales de coirón”. The little brooks has an intense green color in summer and in spring. Inside the protected area there are some species that are locally wanted, such as the “guanaco”. This specie nowadays inhabits the area in groups. You can see them in front of the astronomical observatory. The rocky lands constitutes the small lizard environment. A representative specie is the “cola de piche”. There you can see the “ chinchillón”, a rodent that has a dense fur. In the protected area you can see some bird of prey, such as the “ mora eagle ”, the “aguilucho común” and the “peregrine halcyon” ( this specie is the fastest bird of the planet).

	SUGGESTIONS Remember that you are visiting a protected area, so it is recommended to respect established rules for a better conservation of the region. -It is recommended to return with the garbage that you had made. -Remember that using heater is more practical, cleaner and safety than making fire. -To make fire use fireboxes that have already existed or do it far from vegetation. -Bring drinkable water.


	WALKS AND SERVICES In the National Park there is a 14 kilometre way that arrives to the old “El Leoncito” farm and to the astronomical observatories. There are another path that arrives to “La amistad” cascade.

	CONTACTS El Leoncito National Park Belgrano s/nº Barreal (5405) San Juan Province, Argentine Republic Telephone number: (026) 48-441240. E-mail address: elleoncito@apn.gov.ar Administración de Parques Nacionales 690, Santa Fe St. (1059) Buenos Aires Argentina Telephone numbers: (011) 4311-6633/0303 E-mail address: informes@apn.gov.ar