Tapantí National Park

Tapantí - Cerro de la Muerte Massif National Park, (Spanish: Parque Nacional Tapantí - Macizo Cerro de la Muerte), is a National Park in the Central Conservation Area of Costa Rica located on the edge of the Talamanca Range, near Cartago. It protects forests to the north of Chirripó National Park, and also contains part of the Orosí River. The area known as Cerro de la Muerte Massif was added to the park on January 14, 2000.[1]

Tapantí - Cerro de la Muerte Massif National Park
Waterfall seen from the visitor observatory
Tapantí - Cerro de la Muerte Massif National Park area
LocationCosta Rica
Nearest cityCartago
Coordinates9°46′14″N 83°47′59″W
Area583.20 square kilometres (225.17 sq mi)[1]
EstablishedFebruary 1, 1982[1]
Governing bodyNational System of Conservation Areas (SINAC)
Parque Nacional Tapantí
Official nameTurberas de Talamanca
Designated2 February 2003
Reference no.1286[2]

The southwest border of the protected area corresponds partially to the Route 2, Carretera Interamericana Sur (South Inter-American Highway), the Los Quetzales National Park and Los Santos Forest Reserve are located the other side of this road.

Flora and fauna

The park covers 583.20 square kilometres (225.17 sq mi) and two life zones: lower montane rain forest and pre-montane rain forest. These forests provide habitat for some 45 mammal species, including the Baird's tapir, kinkajou, white-faced capuchin monkey, paca, agouti, ocelot, and jaguarundi. The park's 400 bird species include sparrow hawks, resplendent quetzals, emerald toucanets, and violaceous trogons. There are 28 species of reptiles and amphibians, and a large insect population that includes the thysania agrippina, the largest moth on the American continent.

Three new species of Lepanthes orchids were discovered in the park in 2009 and is so far their only known habitat. All three species, L. graciosa, L. machogaffensis, and L. pelvis, are miniature orchids and neither is longer than 5 mm. They were discovered by a team from the Lankester Botanical Garden and the University of Costa Rica.[3]

Ramsar site

Part of the Turberas de Talamanca Ramsar site is located within this protected area and shared with Chirripó National Park, Los Quetzales National Park, Macho River Forest Reserve, Vueltas Hill Biological Reserve and Los Santos Forest Reserve.[2][4]

References
  1. "Información General - Parque Nacional Tapantí Macizo de la Muerte" [General Information - Tapantí Macizo de la Muerte National Park] (in Spanish). SINAC. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
  2. "Turberas de Talamanca". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  3. Vargas, Alejandra (January 18, 2010). "Halladas 3 nuevas especies de orquídeas miniatura en Tapantí" [3 new species of miniature orchids found in Tapantí]. La Nación (in Spanish). Archived from the original on January 21, 2010.
  4. "Turberas de Talamanca Map" (PDF). Ramsar. Retrieved 7 May 2020.


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