Administración de Parques Nacionales

PN El Rey (El Rey National Park) was created in order to protect a representative sample of "Las Yungas" and transition environments.

	GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA The protected area has a 44.162 hectare surface. It is located in Salta province. The environment protected by PN El Rey (El Rey National Park) belongs to the “Montana” jungle eco-region. The climate is warm, with absolutes temperatures to the continent. The rains oscillates between 500 and 700 millimeters.

	CULTURAL RESOURCES The protected area was inhabited by farmer indigenous groups. They were the oldest inhabitants of Las Yungas. Their settlements were located in the hillock, near the level lands important to the cultivation. The archeological sites and materials found in the National Park are represented by gray ceramics pieces. They have a relationship with the old societies that inhabited the protected area, in the Yungas north west Argentinean region. Nowadays, that region is inhabited by native groups, descendant of that old indigenous inhabitants. The National Park´s name origin In the 18 th century, “El Rey” old country house was one of the east border forts. It was sold to Coronel Fernández Cornejo, who had carried out the Jesuit expulsion. After that, Coronel Fernández Cornejo was the first historic explorer of the Chaco region. Nowadays, you can see “El Rey” country house ruins.

	ACCESS The protected area is located in the Anta Department, in Salta province. There are 80 kilometers between the National Park and Salta Capital City. To access to the protected area -from Salta, General Güemes and Metán cities- you have to go to Lumbreras town by the route number 34. There, you must to go to Paso de la Cruz village by the route number 5, and then you have to take the route number 20 to the National Park. It is important to know that the route number 20 is a consolidated way and during the summer it sometimes becomes impassable because of rains.

INTERACTIVE MAP
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	NATURAL RESOURCES Landscapes. Flora and fauna. The mountainous region and the different kinds of land of the region bring about different tupes of vegetation and animal existence. Flora In the protected area there are –between the 750 and 2.000 meters high- five levels of vegetation. The lower of them belongs to the chaqueño-serrano forest. There are different species, such us the ”horco quebracho”, the “cochucho”, the “atamisque” and the “cardones”. In the transition jungle there are “tipás” and “pacaraés”. It is followed by the Montana jungle, where you can see cedars , “tarcos”, “tipas”, and walnuts. In the 800 meter high there is the mirtáceas jungle, where predominates the “palo barroso”, the “alpamato”, the “mato”, the “chal- chal”, and the “güili”. In the 1500 meter high grows the mountains pine forest, and -then- there are the “aliso” and “queñoa” forests. One of the most eye-catching aspects is the great variety of “ epifitas”, such as the “ bromelia tanque”, “claveles del aire”, and different species of orchids. Fauna The diversity of environments brings about the different animals species. The representative fauna of Las Yungas is composed by the “tapir ” , the “corzuela ” , the “taruca ” , and the “oso hormiguero”. In the protected area there are some characteristic species of the Chaco province, such us the “chuña”, the “charata”, the “pava de monte común”, the “corzuelas pardas”, the “peccaries” and the “tapirs”. The “pecarí labiado” inhabites in the gullies. The “corzuela parda” lives in the transition jungle and the “corzuela roja” is distributed in the alisos forests. Inside the rivers you can see the “river wolves” and the “mayuato”. It is possible to recognize in PN El rey (El Rey National Park) the scrubland fox and the puma, which is the bigest feline of the region. The rivers and brooks are inhabited by different native fishes, such as “dorados”, “bogas”, “bagres” and "sábalos”. In the “Patitos” small lake there are different aquatic birds: the “gallareta escudete rojo”, the “pollona negra”, the “pato cutirí” and the gray “macacito”. In the forests live the following birds: the “forest king” and the “monterita ceja rojiza”. The “tapir” or “anta” is the bigger mammal of South America. It has a 300 kilograms and eats aquatic plants.

	CONTACTS El Rey National Park 366, España - 3rd floor (4400) Salta Salta, República Argentina Telephone number:: (034) 87-4312683. E-mail address: elrey@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



	WALKS AND SERVICES PN El Rey (El Rey National Park) is a great place to watch the fauna, specially the wild birds. The best time to visit the protected area is between May and November. There is a camping zone located near the operative center. The camping zone has drinkable water and bathrooms. There are a lot of path to explore the different environments: “Los Patitos” small lake: there is a 1,5 kilometer distance between this place and the operative center. It is near the access way. It is very recommended to visit this path because it is a great place to see aquatic birds and many mammals. The walk takes an hour. Popayán river: there is a 10 kilometer distance between this place and the operative center. You can access there by a difficult way. This walk has a 2 hours long. “Pozo Verde” path: there is a 12 kilometer distance between this place and the operative center. The first three kilometers are conformed by a difficult way. The rest is a pedestrian path that includes an interpretation way, called “Los ocultos”. Santa Elena Field and Los Lobitos cascade: you can access there by a difficult way. There is a four kilometer distance between this place and the operative center. It cross the transition jungle. This walk has a two hours long. ”De la chuña” path: it is a shortcut, and it is prepared for walks. It leaves from the operative center and arrives to the Sala brook. This walk takes an hour. “Los ocultos” path: it is a pedestrian path, and cross the transition jungle. There is a 12 kilometer distance between this place and the operative center. This walk has two hours long. “Chorro de los loros” path: it is a pedestrian path. It has a medium- high difficulty. It has a 10 kilometres length and crosses the transition jungle. It starts in the operative center.