Tolhuaca National Park

 

Localization

South Chile; 154 km northeast of Temuco

Access

Easy

Characteristic

65 km²; Part of the forested lower western spurs and foothills of the Andes. The park has an elevation of 700 m at its western end and 1,821 m at eastern end. Typical ecosystems: temperate zone forest, small lakes and numerous ponds. Magnificent 49 m waterfall of the Malleco river. Tolhuaca volcano (2 806 m) is situated in the vicinity of the park. 

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

Rodents - Coypus (Myocastoridae): Nutria

Carnivores - Dogs (Canidae): Culpeo Fox; Argentinian Grey Fox

- Cats (Felidae): Kodkod, Puma

Even-toed Ungulates - Deers (Cervidae): Southern Pudu

Birds:

Ciconiiformes - Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae): Black-faced Ibis

Anseriformes - Gees, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae): Spectacled Duck; Ashy-headed Goose; Flying Steamerduck; Chiloe Wigeon

Birds of Prey - American Vultures (Cathartidae): Andean Condor

- Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle; Rufous-tailed Hawk; White-throated Hawk

- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Crested Caracara

Charadriiformes - Gulls (Laridae): Andean Gull

Columbiformes - Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae): Chilean Pigeon

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Austral Parakeet; Slender-billed Parakeet

Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Austral Pygmy Owl

Apodiformes - Hummingbirds (Trochilidae): Green-backed Firecrown

Piciformes - Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Chilean Flicker; Magellanic Woodpecker; Striped Woodpecker

Perching Birds - Ovenbirds or Horneros (Furnariidae): Bar-winged Cinclodes; Thorn-tailed Rayadito; Des Murs´ Wiretail

- Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae): Chestnut-throated Huet-huet; Chucao Tapaculo; Magellanic Tapaculo; Ocher-flanked Tapaculo

- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Fire-eyed Diucon; White-browed Ground-Tyrant

- Blackbirds, Orioles and Cowbirds (Icteridae): Long-tailed Meadowlark

- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae): Yellow-bridled Finch; Patagonian Sierra-Finch

 

Plants:

Lycophytes:

Lycopodiales - Lycopodiaceae:  Clubmoss (Lycopodium magellanicum)

Ferns:

Cyatheales - Dicksoniaceae: Lophosoria quadripinnata

Polypodiales - Blechnaceae: Midsorus Fern (Blechnum chilense)

Conifers:

Araucariales - Araucariaceae: Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) - monotypical stands forests

Cupressales - Cupressaceae: Austrocedrus chilensis 

Podocarpales - Podocarpaceae: Prumnopitys andina

Dicotyledons:

Ranunculales - Ranunculaceae: Pacific Anemone (Anemone multifida); Leatherflower (Clematis sp.)

- Berberidaceae: Barberries (Berberis darwini and B. trigona)

- Lardizabalaceae: Boquila trifoliolata

Caryophyllales - Caryophyllaceae: Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis)

Oxalidales - Eucryphiaceae:  Ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia)

Saxifragales - Grossulariaceae: Currant (Ribes magellanicum)

Fabales - Fabaceae: Adesmia emarginata; Clover (Trifolium sp.); Necklacepod (Sophora cassioides); Pea (Lathyrus magellanicus)

Fagales - Nothofagaceae: Coigue (Nothofagus dombeyi) and Robble Beech (Nothofagus obliqua) - monotypical stands forests

Malpighiales - Violaceae: Violet (Viola sp.)

- Linaceae:  Pale Flax (Linum bienne)

Celastrales - Celastraceae: Maytens (Maytenus disticha and M. magellanica)

Proteales - Proteaceae: Chilean Firebush (Embothrium coccineum); Lomatia dentada

Myrtales - Myrtaceae: Chilean Guava (Ugni molinae); Shortleaf Stopper (Luma apiculata)

- Onagraceae: Hardy Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica)

Apiales - Apiaceae: Pozoa volcanica

- Araliaceae: Pseudopanax valdiviensis

Cornales - Hydrangeaceae: Hydrangea (Hydrangea serratifolia)

Ericales - Ericaceae: Snowberry (Gaultheria pumila)

- Empetraceae: Crowberry (Empetrum rubrum)

Lamiales - Mints (Lamiaceae): Water Mint (Mentha aquatica)

- Scrophulariaceae: Eyebrights (Euphrasia crysantha and E. flavicans)

Solanales - Solanaceae:  Nightshade (Solanum valdiviense)

Cucurbitales - Coriariaceae:  Coriaria ruscifolia

Asterales - Asteraceae: Baccharis magellanica; Chaetanthera villosa; Dasyphyllum diacanthoides; Haplopappus sp.; Leptocarpha rivularis; Mutisia decurrens; Nassauvia argentea and N. lagascae; Perezia pedicularidifolia and P. recurvata; Ragwort (Senecio sp.)

Monocotyledons:

Liliales - Alstroemeriaceae:  Alstroemeria aurea

Poales - Grasses (Poaceae): Pampas Grass (Cortaderia araucana)

Asparagales - Iridaceae: Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium pearcei)

- Amaryllidaceae: Rhodophiala andicola and R. moelleri

- orchids (Orchidaceae): Chloraea longipetala and Ch. magellanica; Gavilea lutea

 

Possible activities

Excellent conditions for walking tourism - several footpaths

Fishing, swimming, mountaineering,

Note

Hot springs

Picture - source wikipedia