Chirripo National Park
One of the greatest biological wealth and variety in Costa Rica can be found in the Cirripo National Park which protects the largest virgin rainforest in the country. The great wealth of habitats are found especially here in this place because of the variety in altitude, soil type, climate and topography of the area. Paramos, swamps, oak forests, madrono forests and all other kinds of mixed forests can be found here.
This enormous park lies on 50,150 hectares of land and together with La Aimstad National Park, the Chirripo shelter around 60% of all the fauna in Costa Rica.
400 bird species and about 263 amphibians and reptiles have been observed in both of the parks. Among the birds are the resplendent quetzal (phoenix of the forest), black guan, crowned wren-thrush, elegant trogon and the acorn woodpecker. Mammals that can be found in the parks are tapir, puma and jaguar.
Several glaciers that are still intact has been the most interesting discoveries made in the Chirripo National Park. These glacial features such as the glacial valleys, terminal moraines and glacial lakes were formed about 25,000 to 30,000 years ago. The Chirripo Peak, which is the tallest mountain in the country lies also within the national park.
by Elisheva Wiriaatmadja.
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