PN Laguna Blanca (Laguna Blanca National Park) protects the Laguna Blanca, one of the most important lakes of the patagonic steppe that house different forms of aquatic life.

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA
The National Park was created in 1940 in order to protect one of the most important places where lives the black neck swan. It is located in the northwest of Neuquén province and houses –in a volcanic landscape- a lot of different forms of aquatic and terrestrial life. The protected area belongs to the patagonic steppe eco-region.
The particular characteristic of the region is the small lake, located between small slope hills. It is surrounded by abrupt walls. The Laguna Blanca is located 1.270 meters over the sea level, and has a 1.700 hectare surface.

This place has been included in the important Wetlands List (Ramsar Convention) due its importance as an aquatic bird´s habitat.

CULTURAL RESOURCES
Cave painting and engraving, and some stone toolbox are the proof of the old human presence in Laguna Blanca thousands of years ago. The old inhabitants of the region used the steppe resources. The small lake constituted a supplying key point. The guanaco hunting gave them their main food, that was complemented with fruits collection. The native inhabitants made their toolboxes with stones and osseous rests of hunting animals.

The inhabitants descendants are the mapuche communities that nowadays live in the nearness of PN Laguna Blanca (Laguna Blanca National Park). They live together with the creole populations, which origins are connected with the first white colonists of the 19 th century.
INTERACTIVE MAP
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NATURAL RESOURCES
Landscapes. Flora and fauna.
The particular characteristic of the region is the small lake located between small slope hills. It is surrounded by abrupt walls. The Laguna Blanca is located 1.270 meter over the sea level, and has a 1.700 hectare surface. It has a 10 meter depth and receives water from two brooks: the “Llano Blanco” and the ”Pichi-Ñireco”. The diversity of birds that inhabits the region creates a special attractive for the protected area. Besides the black neck swan, there are "gallaretas” and different species of ducks. More than a thousand species visit the small lake during the year. Some of them are “chorlos”, “flamencos”, “playeros” and “macáes plateados”.
Some important amphibians of the Laguna Blanca are the patagonic aquatic frogs. This specie is endemic of the protected area, and have been wiped out of the Laguna Blanca due the trout clandestine introduction. Nowadays, the patagonic aquatic frogs inhabits the lakes where are no trouts.
Other important animals of the region are are pumas, foxes, “ choiques”, “piches”, and condors.
The patagonic steppe vegetation has been adapted to the climate conditions. The vegetation of the region developed forms and sizes that resists strong winds, the snow, and the lack of water in summer. Plants are short and have strong thorns. The National Park protects samples of terrestrial communities such as “matas”, "neneo”, and “molle”.
ACCESS
There is a 30 kilometre distance between PN Laguna Blanca (Laguna Blanca National Park) and Zapala locality.
There are different ways to access to the protected area:
-From Neuquén city you can get to Zapala locality by the national route number Nº 22. From Zapala you can access to the protected area taking the national route number Nº 40, and then travelling across the provincial route number 46, which goes through the National Park.
-You can also access to the protected area from Aluminé or Junín de los Andes towns.

WALKS AND SERVICES
In Zapala city it is possible to find accommodation. In the protected area there is a camping zone. You can do different walks, one of them is a way that go around the Llano Blanco brook. With the forester permission you can get to Laguna Verde, where is a refuge to watch the aquatic fauna.
The tourist circuit that goes around the small lake has a little cave, which was inhabited in prehistoric times. This archeological site is being investigated by many specialists. In one of the walls visitors can appreciate a sample of cave painting.
The forester Maintenance is located on the border of the Laguna Blanca. The Visitors Center is open during the weekend and days off. It is open from 9 AM to 6 PM.

SUGGESTIONS
 It is recommended to visitors:

-To remember that the best time to visit the National Park is between May and November.

-To consider the shade absence and the strong winds of the National Park´s climate before using the camping zone.

-To remember that if you want to fish inside the protected area, it is necessary to have a Administration de Parques Nacionales permission.

-To remember that it is banned to sail in the protected area.

-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 using fireboxes that have already existed or doing it far from vegetation.

CONTACTS
 Laguna Blanca National Park
C.C 216
(8340)
Zapala
Neuquén
República Argentina
Telephone number: (029) 42-431982.
E-mail address:
lagunablanca@apn.gov.ar

Administración de Parques Nacionales
690, Av. Santa Fe
C1059ABN -
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Telephone number: (5411) 4311-6633 / 0303
E-mail address: informes@apn.gov.ar