Paracas National Reserve

Paracas National Reserve Declared World Heritage Natural Site by UNESCO.

Considered one of the strangest and richest ecosystems in the world.

Location: Department of Ica, province of Pisco.
Area: 335,000 hectares.
Creation: year 1975.

The only marine reservation of Peru is the Pracas National Reserve. Protection unit that has for objective the conservation of the marine ecosystem and of the characteristic formations of a portion of tropical sub desert, protection of the cultural and historical patrimony of the pre-Inca Paracas culture, and to promote the rational use of the marine resources.

Paracas National Reserve Extension

From the total of its extension (335 thousand hectares), 217,594 correspond to marine waters and 117,406 to mainland.

The marine reservation has characteristic of great beauty, with average temperatures of 18.7°C (65.66°F), with sun almost the whole year and absence of rains. The wind has a speed average of 14.9 km/h (8.7 miles/h) and in some opportunities winds that reach speeds of 32 km/h (20 miles/h) that lift masses of sand which are denominated paracas.

The sea of Paracas presents small marine currents that favor the numerous presence of the plankton, origin of the marine food chain, giving place to a habitat of numerous marine species; are registered more than 250 species of algae. The terrestrial flora is almost nonexistent for the absence of rains.

In the ocean also exists a variety marine wealth; great quantity of species, fish like the sole (Etropus ectenes), white toyo (Mustelus whitneyi), bonito (Sarda chilensis), tramboyos, dims, mero, pampanito, corvine, lornas, chitas, among others.

Bufeos [dolphins] (Delphinius dephis), turtles, mollusks like the octopus, squids, clams and crustaceans, as purple crabs and the muy-muy (Emerita analoga) are also common in this area.

In the terrestrial area exists a rich fauna, it harbors the biggest colony in sea lions [seals] (Otaria byronia and Arctocephalus australis), dung birds, zarcillos (Larosterna inca), migratory birds, Humboldt variety of penguins (Spheniscus humboldt) and parihuanas or flamingos (Phoenicopterux tuber), species in danger of extinction, condors (Vultur gryphus), marine cats (Lutra feline) in danger of extinction, gulls, pelicans, red head turkeys buzzard, the black ostrich, unique species in the Paracas National Reserve.

The Paracas National reserve is located basically on the peninsula and bay of Paracas, it also has archaeological remains of the Paracas National Reserve culture, outstanding the archaeological locations of "Cabeza Larga" and "Pampa de Santo Domingo" where human remains of collectors and fishermen have been located with an antiquity of 6,500 BC. In Paracas National Reserve There was found a "quena" [flute] (musical Peruvian instrument) with decoration considered as the first musical instrument of Peru.