National Park Los Nevados

National Park Los Nevados

 is located in the Andean Cordillera Central Andes in Colombia. Its surface is part of the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindio and Tolima, being divided between the municipalities of Villamaría, Santa Rosa de Cabal, Pereira, Salento, Villahermosa, Anzoategui, Santa Isabel, Murillo and Ibague.
The park includes corresponding to the cold, moor, superpáramo and snow thermal floors, so their main ecosystems are the Andean forests, moors and glacier. It also includes the watersheds of some rivers such as the River Otún, Totarito River Mills River, Azufrado River Lagunillas River, river and Guali river Campoalegre include.
Before entering the park you can see the black lagoon. In the park are located the snowy del Ruiz, Tolima, Santa Isabel, the Swan, Quindio, Moon Valley, and gaps Otún and LAVERDE, among other attractions.
Among its main attractions are the volcanic system, varied ecosystems, landscapes, lakes and the perpetual snows of the different peaks.


Attractions:
-Nevado Del Ruiz

-Nevado Of Tolima
-Nevado Santa Isabel
-Crater Of Olleta
-Paramillos (The Swan, Santa Rosa, Quindio and Morronegro)
-Laguna Otún
-Laguna Verde Encantada
Lunar -Valle
-Termales

 Nevado del Ruiz






The Nevado del Ruiz, also known as table Herveo, 5 and in pre-Columbian times as Cumanday, Tabuchía yTama, 1 is the northernmost of the volcanoes of the volcanic belt of the Andes, located on the border between the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Tolima in Colombia. It is a stratovolcano composed of many layers of hardened lava and other volcanic pyroclastic conceniza alternate. He has been active for about two million years, from the Pleistocenotemprano or late Pliocene, with three major eruptive periods. The formation of the volcanic cone formed during the course of the current eruptive period began 150,000 years ago.
Overall, its eruptions are Plinian, giving rise to rapid currents of hot gas and rock called pyroclastic flows. These massive eruptions often generate lahars (mudflows and debris), which pose a threat to human life and the environment. On November 13, 1985 a small eruption triggered a massive lahar that buried the urban center of Armero in what became known as the tragedy of Armero, which as calculated, occurred 25,000 deaths, 6 so it is considered as the second most devastating volcanic eruption of the twentieth century, after the eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902.7 Other similar incidents occurred in 1595 and 1845, but were less deadly.
The volcano is part of the National Park Los Nevados and includes other snowy peaks as the delTolima Nevados, Santa Isabel, El Cisne and Quindio, which are covered by glaciers have been retreating significantly since 1985 because of global warming . The park is a popular tourist destination and includes several shelters for tourists; the slopes of the volcano are used for winter sports, and Lake Otún for fishing trucha.8 Also in the region are some hot springs spas operated comercialmente.8 Between 1868 and 1869, German geologists Reiss and Stübel were the first to attempt to climb Ruiz in a documented expedition, and in 1936, CUNet yGansser were the first to do so successfully, which repeated in 1939.

The Nevado del Ruiz, also known as table Herveo, 5 and in pre-Columbian times as Cumanday, Tabuchía yTama, 1 is the northernmost of the volcanoes of the volcanic belt of the Andes, located on the border between the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Tolima in Colombia. It is a stratovolcano composed of many layers of hardened lava and other volcanic pyroclastic conceniza alternate. He has been active for about two million years, from the Pleistocenotemprano or late Pliocene, with three major eruptive periods. The formation of the volcanic cone formed during the course of the current eruptive period began 150,000 years ago.
Overall, its eruptions are Plinian, giving rise to rapid currents of hot gas and rock called pyroclastic flows. These massive eruptions often generate lahars (mudflows and debris), which pose a threat to human life and the environment. On November 13, 1985 a small eruption triggered a massive lahar that buried the urban center of Armero in what became known as the tragedy of Armero, which as calculated, occurred 25,000 deaths, 6 so it is considered as the second most devastating volcanic eruption of the twentieth century, after the eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902.7 Other similar incidents occurred in 1595 and 1845, but were less deadly.
The volcano is part of the National Park Los Nevados and includes other snowy peaks as the delTolima Nevados, Santa Isabel, El Cisne and Quindio, which are covered by glaciers have been retreating significantly since 1985 because of global warming . The park is a popular tourist destination and includes several shelters for tourists; the slopes of the volcano are used for winter sports, and Lake Otún for fishing trucha.8 Also in the region are some hot springs spas operated comercialmente.8 Between 1868 and 1869, German geologists Reiss and Stübel were the first to attempt to climb Ruiz in a documented expedition, and in 1936, CUNet yGansser were the first to do so successfully, which repeated in 1939.4

Geography and geology

The volcano is located 220 km west of Bogota and is part of the Andes, specifically Ruiz-Tolima volcanic massif (or Central Cordillera), which are also part of the volcano Nevado del Tolima, Santa Isabel, the Quindio and Cerro Machín.9 10 massif is located at the intersection of four faults, some of which are still activas.11
It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and is the northernmost of the volcanic belt of the Andes, which includes 75 of the 204 South American volcanoes formed during Holoceno.12 This belt is the result of the subduction direction east plate Nazca plate beneath Sudamericana.13 As with other volcanoes at subduction zones, the Nevado del Ruiz can lead to explosive Plinian eruptions associated with pyroclastic flows that can melt glaciers surrounding the summit, producing lahares.14

Satellite image Radar Nevado del Ruiz, with deep Arenas crater visible near the summit.
Like many other Andean volcanoes, Nevado del Ruiz is a stratovolcano, ie a tall conical volcano, composed of multiple layers of hardened lava, tephra and ash alternating volcánicas.15 Its lavas are composiciónandesítica-dacitic; 16 The modern volcanic cone comprises five lava domes, all built within the ancestral calderadel Ruiz: Nevado El Cisne, Alto de la Laguna, the Olleta, the Pirana Alto and Alto de Santano.17 covers an area of ​​more than 200 km², covering 65 km from east to west. 18 The summit includes extensive Arenas crater, with 1 km in diameter and 240 m profundidad.16
The top of the volcano has hillsides with slopes of 20 to 30 degrees. At lower altitudes the slopes are less pronounced, with inclinations near 10 degrees. From there, the piedemontesse extend almost to the banks of the Magdalena to the east, and delCauca to occidente.19 In the two main sides of the top, the cliffs of glaciers show the places where landslides have occurred ; Also, sometimes it has melted the ice of glaciers, causing devastating lahars, including the deadliest eruption of the continent 1985.14 16 20 In the southwestern side of the volcano's pyroclastic cone Olleta, which is not currently active, is but It has erupted several times in the past.

Glaciers


The summit of the volcano and the highest surrounding areas are covered by glaciers, which appear as a white mass around the crater Arenas.
The Nevado del Ruiz is covered by glaciers, which were formed thousands of years ago and have generally been retreating since the Last Glacial Maximum. From 28,000 to 21,000 years ago, glaciers covered 1,500 km² Ruiz-Tolima massif. As late as 12,000 years ago, when the ice sheets of the last glaciation retreated, still covering 800 km², and during the Little Ice Age, the ice covered approximately 100 km².21
Thereafter, glaciers have been retreating further due to heating of the atmósfera.11 By 1959, the glacier area was reduced to only 34 km²; 22 and since the eruption of 1985, which destroyed about 10% of the area Frost the top, it has been halved, from 17-21 km² just after the eruption, about 10 km² in 2003. In 1985, glaciers reached as low as 4,500 meters heights, but now only reach to heights between 4,800 and 4,900 metros.11
The ice has an average thickness of about 50 m; It is thicker in some areas of the summit plateau and under the Nereids glacier in the southwest slopes, where it reaches depths of 190 m. The glaciers on the northern slopes, and to a lesser extent the eastern slopes, lost most of its ice in the eruption of 1985.23 and therefore only reach 30 m profundidad.24 The thick ice covering the summit plateau may be hiding a boiler; five domes around this plateau have emerged as the ice is gone retirando.24
The melt water is drained mostly the Cauca river, west, and Magdalena, the oriente.19 Laescorrentía from Ruiz glaciers and snowy peaks surrounding is responsible for supplying drinking water to 40 villages near , so that both Colombian scientists and government officials are concerned about the water supply to the cities if the glaciers melted by completo.25
Flora and fauna

Spectacled bear.
In general, the Nevado del Ruiz is poorly forested mainly due to its elevation and tree cover decreases as altitude increases. At lower altitudes, these well developed temperate forests (20-35 m) are; above these, but below the tree line, certain sections of the surface feature dwarf forests (3-8 m). Above this line, in the wilderness, vegetation is dominated by Espeletia.8 The vegetation of the region consists of different families of woody plants, including Rubiaceae, Fabaceae, Melastomataceae, Lauraceae and Moraceae. Some herbs, such as Polypodiaceae family, Araceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Piperaceae and Orchidaceae are also present in the region.8
Among the animals that inhabit the volcano are the mountain tapir and the spectacled bear, considered comoamenazados.8 also around the volcano are species like B. ferrugineifrons, O. and O. guerinii percrassa. In addition, the Nevado del Ruiz is home to the Andean condor and 27 endemic species of Colombia, with 14 of them confined to the region around the volcano. 15 species of birds in the region are also considered as amenazadas.8
Eruptive history

His first eruptions occurred 1.8 million years ago, in the early Pleistocene, 11 from which we have identified three primary periods of eruption: elancestral, former and current. During the first one, between one million and two million years ago, a complex of large stratovolcanoes, 10 which then partly collapsed between making a million and 0.8 million years, forming boilers between 5 and 10 km was created wide. During the ancient period, which lasted from 0.8 to 0.2 makes millions of years, a new complex of large stratovolcanoes developed, including what for that time were the Ruiz, Tolima, Quindio, and Santa Isabel. Again, explosive boilers were formed in their summits, makes 0.2 and 0.15 million years.10
This period began about 150,000 years ago and involved the development of the current volcano across the locus of lava domes made from andesite and dacite within calderas.11 old during the past 11,000 years, the Nevado del Ruiz has last for at least 12 stages of eruption, which have included multiple landslides, pyroclastic flows and lahars, leading to the partial destruction of the domes of cima.10 11 Over the last few thousand years, most of eruptions Volcanoes Ruiz-Tolima massif have been small, and the deposited pyroclastic flows have been less bulky than the Pleistoceno.10Dado that older volcano eruptions have not been registered, volcanologists have used the technique tefrocronología to date them. three
During the recorded history of volcano eruptions have consisted mainly of a central fireplace in the boiler, followed by an explosive eruption, then, lahars. The oldest identified in the Holocene eruptions occurred around 6660 a. C., and further eruptions occurred in 1245 BC ± 150 years (using ladatación radiocarbon), about 850 a. C., in 200 BC ± 100 years, and in 350 AD ± 300 years AD 675 ± 50 years, in 1350, 1570, 1595, 1623, 1805, 1826, 1829, 1831, 1845, 1916, December 1984 to March 1985, September 1985 to July 1991, and possibly 1541, 1828, 1833 and April 1994 and the last on June 30, 2012 which was únicamente.nota gases and ash March 1 26 Many these included a rash rashes central fireplace, fireplace at the sides, and unaexplosión freática.3 Ruiz is regarded as the second most active volcano


Current threats and preparedness


The Nevado del Ruiz seen from Manizales in 2006.
The volcano continues to pose a serious threat to nearby towns. The most likely risk is that small volume eruptions could destabilize glaciers and generate lahares.10 Despite the significant reduction in the size of glaciers, ice volume in the snowy peaks of the area remains large. If only 10% of the ice melted, could produce mudflows from over 200 million cubic meters, similar to the flow that buried Armero in 1985.11 As lahars can travel over 100 km through the valleys of the amount rivers within a few hours 11 estimates show that approximately 500,000 inhabitants of the valleys of the Combeima, Chinchina, Coello-Toche, and Gualí rivers are at risk, and 100,000 of them are considered high riesgo.47 Despite that small eruptions are more likely, the eruptive history of two million years Ruiz-Tolima massif includes numerous eruptions of significant magnitude, so that should not be ignored the threat of eruption grande.10 An eruption of this type could have more widespread effects, including the possible closure of the airport in Bogota due to falling ceniza.48
As the Armero tragedy was compounded by the lack of early warnings, 43 unwise land use, 49Y unpreparedness of the surrounding 43 communities the Colombian government began a formal program called the National Office for Disaster Relief In 1987, in order to prevent similar incidents in the future. The major Colombian cities were directed to promote prevention planning to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters and 49 were carried out evacuations due to volcanic hazards. About 2,300 living along five nearby rivers were evacuated when the volcano erupted again in 1989.50 When another Colombian volcano Nevado del Huila, erupted in April 2008, thousands of people were evacuated because volcanologists alerted the population claiming that the eruption could be another "Nevado del Ruiz"; 51 Similarly, the area surrounding the Galeras, has consistently been evacuated due to actividad.52
In April 2012, the volcano increased seismic activity, 53 revealing the unpreparedness of populations aledañas.54
In early March 2012 an initial pulse emission of volcanic ash associated with volcanic tremor occurs. According to the Colombian Geological Survey [2] ash emitted had a volume of 1,340,000 cubic meters; until the day June 8, 2012 still falling ash irregularly, why civil, aeronautical 55 closed the airport from the city of Manizales and restricted air traffic in some areas of the country as a preventive measure.
The Geological Colombiano Service conducted an analysis of the ashes, finding that: according to preliminary analysis of components and particle size of the ash samples collected from the issuance of the day May 29, 2012, under the binocular microscope, it was observed that their composition is líticocristalina, with crystals of plagioclase, amphibole, quartz, biotite, pyroxene and magnetite; are volcanic lithic also presents fragments of pumice and glass. After performing the screening of some samples collected can be seen that the grain sizes ranging from very coarse ash (1 and 2 mm) and thick (0.5-1 mm) in the nearest Arenas Crater sectors, while in the municipalities of Manizales, Chinchiná, Palestine and Villamaría grain size varies from medium ash (0.25-0.5 mm) and extremely fine ash (<0.0625 mm); and the uttermost parts grain size is less than 0.125 mm.
On Saturday June 30, 2012 left a huge cock, at 5:40 pm volcano erupted; was an eruption of gases and ash, and did not affect the flow of rivers, standing volcano on red alert. On July 1 went from red alert to orange again for possible new eruption in days or weeks.
This time, Caldas and Tolima are prepared for what happened in 1985. And this time and several towns or cities near the Nevado have been evacuated so that there are no victims by some sudden eruption.

Nevado del Tolima


The volcano Nevado del Tolima is located in the Central Andes of Colombia in the jurisdiction of municipalities in Anzoategui tolimenses and Ibague.1
Being located in a conical stratovolcano, the volcano Nevado del Tolima presents a unique summit on which rests the current glacier (IDEAM, 2012). The tolimense Volcano, the smallest of the country glacier mass presents a altitudmáxima 5220 m measured 60CSx Garmin GPS device (caminaeko, 2012).
From the interpretation of the satellite image RapidEye is estimated that in 2010 the glacier area of ​​the Nevado del Tolima was 0.74 km2, corresponding to 2% of Colombian glacier area. Ingeominas (1998) calculated the average 70 meters thick glacier on the flattest and uptown.
The main access to the volcano is performed starting from the city of Ibagué to the area of ​​El Silencio, through the villages of Villa Restrepo, pastures and Boards. Thereafter several roads leading to the summit are released. It is considered by the obsevatorio as an "active volcano VULCANOLOGICO MANIZALES stable behavior" .1

HOT SPRINGS

Aerial view of snow covered from the south.
Have been inventoried and classified four thermal sources located in the volcano Nevado del Tolima. Temperatures of its springs are between 52 ° C in the hot spring Don Camilo and 24 ° C in the thermal source Aquilino. Hydrogen potentials are near neutrality. Don Camillo has a total dissolved solids electrical conductivity of 5.6 mS / cm and 3323 mg / kg; Aquilino while total dissolved solids has an electrical conductivity of 1.5 mS / cm and 1651 mg / kg. The hot springs Cebollal and The Thermal showed intermediate values ​​necessary to emphasize Los Thermal Canyon between 3900 m and 4000 msn.
Combeima River Downs:
The Combeima river has its left margin the following streams: The Meltdown, The Dead, The Almorzadero, The Pastures, The Thermal, El Silencio, Las Perlas, La Honda, La Pedregosa, Santa Rita, La Plata, The Talk, The Crystalline , Las Peñas and Cay. On the right side streams: Siberia, Guamal, Snooker, El Trapiche, The Secret Heart, Shipyards, Animas, Piedecuesta, Tiling, San Augustine Volcano, Madroñal, El Salto and Zanja Honda

Santa Isabel
The Santa Isabel is one of the mountains of the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Its summit rises to 4,965 meters above sea level and marks the border of three Caldas, Risaralda and Tolima.1 departments
His climb is relatively easy and requires little technical expertise. His attack starts in Potosí hacienda in Santa Rosa de Cabal, and later by the path known as hutches. Evidence that in the past was unvolcán active (prehistoric) were found. Curious about the complex dome crowning its summit and make it one of the rarest snowcapped continente.1 can also climb the El Cedral, in Pereira, through the cloud forest, valley and frailejones Lake Otún.


CRATER OF OLLERA

Sand, snow and legends that speak of ceremonies of indigenous ancestors and fantastic visions of alien spaceships are stored in the Crater Olleta in the National Park Los Nevados.
4800 meters high. A desert landscape is interrupted by bright white snow. Of the wind that seem completely silent howl that lets you hear the heartbeat is passed.
This ecological reserve of 58,300 hectares is a true pantry water for 36 municipalities in the departments of Caldas, Quindio, Risaralda and Tolima.
Mountain sand and volcanic stone, Olleta has a perfect conical formation. Small rocks fragmented presence of oxidized iron and sulfur materials give it a coppery hue feature. At times, it hides behind the fog and then reappears again majestic.
The ascent begins.
Up to this dormant volcano, also llamadoEl dormidoi lion, is encountering a lunar landscape where sandy gray and ocher cut with huge igneous rocks.
The first reference point, after leaving the city of Manizales, is a place known as La Esperanza, at 3,600 meters above sea level. And intense cold and wind that herald the approach of wilderness feel.
Indeed, 500 meters above are Las Brisas up to its name. There, staff of the Parks Unit of the Ministry of Environment gives a necessary inducement to visitors about the importance of the park and care must be taken.
From this place must continue the journey with a guide as Edgar Andrés Fernández, a lover of nature who stopped his thesis Cali Topographic Engineering at the Universidad del Valle to serve as guards in Los Nevados.
As if the cold shrink vegetation as one ascends the bushes are increasingly high, until they disappear over 4,600 meters. From below, the top looks like he was very close, but here the distances deceive and ascend requires determination and effort. Very slow progress is needed to reach the mountain peak.
The road on which this journey, ranging from 3,800 to 4,800 meters, is deemed the highest in Colombia and one of the highest in the world. Terminates at El Refugio, where the tourists stay and is located in a small valley that separates sand Olleta Nevado del Ruiz.
If you keep climbing, you must make regular stations to suit up and restore breathing and heart rate. Take your time, not much, look around, measure their skills and progress. That's the key.
Crowned the summit, 4650 meters, the landscape amazed by its beauty. Below are tiny vehicles and people appear as dots in the vast desert of sand and rocks in the wilderness.
Upstairs huge porous rocks worn by ancient volcanic emanations form complex shapes and are held on one another in a challenge to gravity. In the crater, the copper-toned sand interrupted in short spaces for the whiteness of the snow.
The feeling is one of fullness and respect and awe for nature. Winds bring mist coats and seem inflated whistling in the ears. It is impossible to see a few meters and vision of the valley of sand and snowy peaks cut. Then comes a silence, the mountain and its neighboring peaks is cleared.
To the front is visible majestic and imposing the Nevado del Ruiz volcano or Cumanday (smoky nose) of 5321 meters, with its eternal snows. If the day is suitable, you can spot volcanoes Santa Isabel or Poleka Kasue (Maiden Mountain), 5,100 meters and the Tolima or Dulima (Land of Snows).
Among the interesting places that are crossed during ascent are Aguacerales, the Pyramid, the Valley of the Tombs, Canyon of the Eagles and the Chalet Arenales, among others. (See box).
The Valley of the Tombs or Desert of Solitude, at 4330 meters, has a similar appearance of the lunar surface. The story goes that is a pilgrimage site for Indian and Puyas Quimbayas who inhabited the area.
Reportedly, it is an area full of energy, where some speak of UFO sighting. Hundreds of stones form a huge circle that reflects the needs and requests of visitors. People tend to hold hands and form a circle, according to them, charged with positive energy.
If you are going.
Valley of the Tombs.
You can get there starting from Manizales, at 2,150 meters, via Bogota, fully paved.
While large physical conditions are not necessary, yes you should have a good health. Promotion to children under 6 years or people over 60 are not allowed, as well as to those who submit cardiac or hypertension diseases or pregnant women. Please follow the instructions in the guide. The climb takes between 45 minutes and an hour on average.
After the Valley of Tombs, 17 curves zig-zag mark the route to reach the foot of the crater Olleta.
In one day you can make the ascent to Olleta and to 5,000 meters in the Nevado del Ruiz, where the snow begins.
In Aguacerales, an immense rock is a refuge for a microclimate with moss pantry makes water, and plants such as valerian, pine moor (less than two meters high), rosemary and arnica.
Nearby, at 4070 meters, is the Canyon of the Eagles, where they hunt rabbits and other animals. Keep an extensive area of ​​frailejones and then disappears vegetation. You reach the chalet Arenales, wood construction where visitors can stay. Here stands the Pyramid, training in sand carried by the wind.
-Paramillos (The Swan, Santa Rosa, Quindio and Morronegro)
Location and Access Routes

The paramillo Black Swan-Morro is located in the Central Cordillera of Colombia between volcanic complex of the Nevado del Ruiz (north) and Santa Isabel (south). These complexes are on the road to Lake Otún in Natural Nevados National Park.

Access from Manizales, is taking the road to Bogota. At mile 27, sector Hope (known as eight sector), the detour that leads to the town of Murillo, in an area known as Brisas is the way to shelter Brisas (access to the Natural National Park takes Nevados) and then the detour to Lake Otún taken. To enter the Natural Nevados National Park are required to pay small amount of money to the Ministry of the Environment, in order to give the park maintenance and recovery. Also be hired the services of a specialized mountain guide who will accompany and give relevant feedback to develop a net tourism and exclusively educational and ecological.

From Bogota, take the Honda Satellite - Manizales to the area called La Esperanza and there should continue the route to the park.
Geology

The Black Swan-Morro is a small volcanic complex with evidence of recent activity. In particular, the morphology of Morro Black is characterized by a morphology preserved and little eroded lava lava. The Swan has a relatively older morphology Morro Black, however south of this building has identified a lava flow with little erosion.
The few studies conducted in the area suggest a complex formed by a series of small stratovolcanoes. Five broadcast centers have been identified as generating lava flows. Lava flows are of andesitic type and have significantly lower volumes compared to those observed in neighboring volcanic complexes (Ruiz and Santa Isabel).
Attractions

The paramillo Black Swan-Morro is itself an attractive place, is part of the Natural Nevados National Park and from there you can see the majestic peaks of the snow-capped volcanoes of Ruiz, Santa Isabel and Tolima. On the basis of this complex is the visitor center of the Swan, where various recreation and sports high mountain can be done.

Lake Otún

Laguna del Otún.jpg
The Otún Lake is a natural national park belonging to Los Nevados, located about 3950 meters above sea level in natural reservoir paramo ecosystem. Formed by volcanic action and glacier is mainly fed by the melting delNevado Santa Isabel. It is located in the jurisdiction of departameto of Risaralda, Colombia.
This gap is the major reservoir of the region, has an approximate area of ​​1.5 km² and a depth of 70 m. Its waters are filtered under caverns formed by volcanic flows and lead along with infiltration from LALAGUNA Otún La Leona River, which is the source for the aqueduct in the city of Pereira.
This lake is a major tourist attraction in the area for its great beauty and trout fishing (introduced species). As important species in the lagoon, we have ducks moor, owls and hummingbirds and the landscape is dominated by Espeletia (frailejón) and caracteríticos paramo grasslands.
DESERT OF COLOMBIA


DESERT GUAJIRA
La Guajira desert.jpg
The Guajira Desert is located in the extreme north of Colombia, in the department of La Guajira, covering most of the Peninsula of Venezuela Guajiraincluyendo territories. The area has vast reserves of coal, mined in an area known as El Cerrejón. The area is also the area of ​​residence of the Wayuu indigenous and a variety of flora and fauna of the desert.
Natural Macuira National Park is located in the desert of La Guajira and is a tropical oasis.


The Tatacoa Desert has two characteristic colors: ocher in the area of ​​Cuzco and gray in the Los Hoyos.
The Tatacoa or the Valley of Sorrows, as it was called in 1538 the conquistador Jimenez de Quesada, for traces of deterioration noted in its territory, is not just a desert, but a dry tropical forest. Your name "Tatacoa" also gave the Spaniards, referring to rattlesnakes and not, as one might think, the harmless snakes black.