CULTURAL RESOURCES
In the protected area there were old human settlements. This archaeological site belonged to a hunting group, called “yaros natives”. This name could be a “charrúas” name deformation.
In the 15 th century these indigenous tribes adopted a lot of things of the “guarani” language. The “guaraní” culture was been expanded in the south. In 1750 the military expeditions dismantled the indigenous groups.

The Barquín ruins
After the jesuit exclusión, Manuel Antonio Barquín was declared “Entre Ríos fields protector”, by the first american viceroy –called General Pedro de Cevallos- .
Between 1650 and 1767, Barquín built a lime factory. The company´s success was wonderful, because of the lime demand that came from Montevideo and Buenos Aires. The river transport and the self-sufficient farm setting were important in the factory support. Nowadays, the Barquín ruins are important historical sites.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Landscapes. Flora and fauna.
PN El Palmar (El Palmar National Park) is characterized by a plain landscape. There are little brooks, that cross the National Park and flow in the Uruguay river.
The landscape is conformed by different environments, such as “palmares”, pastures, “little forests”, “pajonales”, and “bank jungle”.
The “yatay” palm tree is an autochthonous specie. It has yellow flowers and orange fruits. Near the “yatay” palm tree there are “chilcas” shrubs.
There are a diversity of fauna. The birds that inhabit the protected area are the “carpenter bird”, the “ñandu”, and the “South American partridge”. On the Uruguay river borders you ca see the bank jungle. Its vegetation is dense. There are “ mataojos” and “mirtáceas” such us the “guayabo colorado”.
Near the Uruguay river, between the jungle and the pastures, grows an irregular line of forests composed by “aromos”,“ñandubay”, and“cacholote castaño”. It is a bird that builds big and complex nests.
Near the camping zone there are“cotorras”. This specie is characterized by its big nests with prickly branchs.

Animals to watch
During the day, in the warmest times, you can see “overos lizards”. At night the place is visited by “ vizcachas ”. The “scrubland fox” is a manageable mammal that you can see in PN El Palmar (El Palmar National Park) ways.

Exotic species
One of the National Park handle problem is the exotic species proliferation. For example the “European wild boar” cause deep damages, because it destroys birds nests. Another exotic specie is the “paradise”, an Asian tree that can change the protected area landscape.

CONTACTS
El Palmar National Park
(3.287)
Ubajay
Entre Ríos
Argentina
telephone number: 03447-493053
Fax number: 03447-493049
E-mail address: elpalmar@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

ACCESS
The National Park is located in the east of Entre Ríos province, in the west of the Uruguay river, between Colón and Concordia Cities. There are a 54 kilometers distance between the National Park and Colón City, and there is a 60 kilometers distance between the protected area and Concordia City. Ubajay is the nearest town.
Only one bus company, that leaves from the Retiro Station -in Buenos Aires- has a stop at the National Park entrance.
There are regular flights to the Concordia City.

WALKS AND SERVICES
The National Park entrance is located on the national route number 14. There is a 12 kilometers way that cross the National Park. It starts in the protected area entrance and arrives to the administrative center.

Services
The protected area has a candy store, a camping zone with grills, tables, warm water, shops, public telephones, and private bicycle services.

Visitors centre
There are a didactic exhibition about the National Park history and nature. It is very important to understand the protected area values. In this place there is an information center, too.

Pedestrian paths
“La glorieta” path: it has 1.000 meters. It leaves from the viewpoint and arrives to the “El Palmar” brook. Then it cross the bank jungle.

El Palmar brook viewpoint: it has a 300 meters distance. It cross the protected area “pastizales”.

The “Mollar”: it has 600 meters distance. Starts in the north of the camping zone and cross over the bank jungle and the adjacent forest.

The Barquín ruins: it has a 1.000 meter s distance. Starts in the National Park Maintenance and goes up to the historical ruins and the Uruguay River beaches.

Vehicles paths
There are four internal ways that make possible to visit the different protected area's environments. Two of them arrives to the El Palmar brook and different panoramic viewpoints.
The main way arrives to the Barquín ruins and the Uruguay river beaches.

SUGGESTIONS
-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.
-It is recommended to visit the visitors center.
- It is recommended not to feed wild animals.
-Take photographs and spread the protected area values.
- Run slowly in the paths.