El Tuparro National Natural Park

The El Tuparro National Natural Park is located in the Orinoco region in Colombia. Its surface is part of the Vichada department. It was created in 1970, extends over an area of 548,000 ha and is bathed by the Tomo rivers to the north, and the Tuparro, Tuparrito and Caño Maipurés rivers to the south.

 

The park is a sanctuary for birds, orchids, monkeys, snakes, and pink river dolphins. There is also an ancient cemetery that belonged to the indigenous nation of the Maipures, who are now extinct. This park owes its name to the Tuparro River, small hills with a height of less than 900 m, remnants of the ancient Guiana Shield, composed of quartz and currently considered some of the oldest mountains on the continent.

 

The Maipures Rapids stand out on the Orinoco River and at the mouth of the Tuparro River. The Orinoco River narrows in this area and its current flows thunderously between giant rocks that extend up to 5 km.