Lauca NP: Nature

Natural Heritage

Flora
 The predominant flora in this area belongs to the poeceae, with species like Festuca orthophylla, Deyeuxia breviaristata, and the Pycnophyllum molle, shrubs like the Parestrephia quadrangularis, P. lucida, Adesmia leucopogon and Astragalus arequipensis and other types of senecio. The moors grow in areas where the water flow is constant and the soil is saturated. The most representative types of flowers in these areas the Oxychloe andina, Carex incurva, Festuca rigescens, Werneria pygmaea, Genciana prostat, Azolla filiculoides, Lilaeopsis macrolepis, and Distichia muscoides.
In higher and rocky areas there are types of pulvinate species like the yareta (Azorella compacta), associated with bushes and herbs, such as the Festuca orthophyllus, Pycnophyllum molle, and so forth. In areas of similar conditions there are the "queñoales", with their most traditional representative, the Polylepis tarapacana.
The pre-Andean area, with includes altitudes ranging between 3,200 and 3,800 mts (10,496 and 12,464 ft), is covered with low thickets along the hillsides, the typical vegetation of this zone. You can also admire queñoa forests along the gorges and hillsides. Two types of prairies can be distinguished in the high plateau: dry and humid.

Hydrography
Most of the water systems in this park are endorheic, being Lauca the most important river. It springs from the moor of Parinacota, a depression with a very slight incline, over which water flows constantly. Lake Chungará is a water mirror located at 4.517 mts amsl, with a surface area of 21,5 km2. Another lake system is made up by the Cotacotani lagoons, located about 4 km away from Chungará. 

 Geology
The volcanic structure of the park is divided into two main chains. The first of them starts in the Nevados de Payachatas, formed by the volcanoes Pomerape (6.252 mts.) and Parinacota (6.342 mts), and the Ajata peaks. South of Guacollo crossing you will find slags of Quisiquisine volcano and the chain of Quimsachata, which is, in turn, made up by the volcanoes Humarata (5.730 mts), Acotango (6.050 mts), and Guallatire, the latter being active in fumarolic stage. The inner chain starts in the peaks of Putre, which are made up by Tarapacá Hill (5.815 mts) and the Putre massif (5.500 mts).

Weather
Lauca National Park has a steppe weather with precipitations occuring mainly between December and March, and an annual rainfall index of 250 mm. These precipitations are caused by the movement of big masses of humid air coming from the north, creating the so called "Bolivian Winter" phenomenon. The annual temperature average ranges between 5 and -5 °C. The thermal amplitude is not too extreme, unlike the daily oscillation, which may reach up to 25ºC.
There is also ice weather in the peaks above 5.000 mts. There is no vegetation in this area and the presence of ice and snow is permanent.
It rains in summer and snows in winter, with an average temperature of 12 to 20ºC during the day, and -3 to -25º C at night.