{{Infobox protected area | name = Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro | alt_name = El Tuparro National Natural Park | iucn_category = II | image = The Eighth Wonder of the World Tuparro Natural Park.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = The Maipures Rapids in El Tuparro | image_size = | map = Colombia | relief=1 | map_alt = | map_caption = | map_width = | location = | nearest_city = Puerto Carreño, Colombia | coordinates = {{coords|5|17|N|68|4|W|display=inline, title}} | area = {{convert|5480|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name="UNESCO" /> | established = 1970 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = SINAP | url = }}

'''El Tuparro National Natural Park''' ({{langx|es|Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro}}) is a national park located in the Vichada Department in the Orinoquía Region of Colombia. It is the only protected area in the Eastern Plains (''Llanos Orientales'') under Colombia's Natural Parks System.

One of its main attractions is the mighty stream ''Raudal de Maypures'' (Maipures Rapids), called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by German explorer Alexander von Humboldt in the 19th century.<ref name="Parque Nacional">{{cite web |url = http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.020211 |title = Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro |publisher = Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia |access-date = 10 July 2010 |language = es |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722114058/http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.020211 |archive-date = 22 July 2011 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Geography== The flat area is bounded by the Orinoco River to the east, the Tomo River to the north and the Tuparro River to the south.<ref name="UNESCO" /> It was created in 1970 and covers an area of 548,000 hectares. In addition to the park's two broad types of natural ecosystems, flooded and non-flooded savannas, it also has five types of riparian forests.<ref name="Ciencia" />

Average yearly rainfall is 2477&nbsp;mm in the western region and 2939&nbsp;mm in the eastern. Average temperature is 27&nbsp;°C.<ref name="Villegas368" /> Savannas cover 75% of the area, and gallery forests covering the rest.<ref name="Villegas368">{{harvnb|Villegas|Sesana|2007| p=368}}</ref> Predominating plants include the Moriche Palm and the tree ''Caraipa llanorum''.<ref name="Ciencia" /> The dominant vegetation on the non-flooded savannas is grass.<ref name="Villegas368" />

The park is home to 74 species of mammals, 320 birds (many of them marine),<ref name="Parque Nacional" /> 17 reptiles, 26 fish and five primate species.<ref name="Villegas371">{{harvnb|Villegas|Sesana|2007| p=371}}</ref> Amphibians are significantly diverse due to the variety of ecosystems in the area.<ref name="Ciencia">{{cite web |url = http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.02021103?patron=01.010903 |title = Naturaleza y Ciencia del Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro |publisher = Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia |access-date = 10 July 2010 |language = es |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722114128/http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.02021103%3Fpatron%3D01.010903 |archive-date = 22 July 2011 }}</ref> Notable birds include guans, curassows, screamers, eagles and ducks. Mammals found on the savanna include white-tailed deer, giant armadillo, small savanna armadillo, and tapir. Peccaries, pumas, jaguars inhabit the woodlands.<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web | url = http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=COL+02&mode=all | title = Biosphere Reserve Information, El Tuparro | publisher = UNESCO | access-date = 10 July 2010 }}</ref>

== References == === Citations === {{Reflist}}

=== Works cited === {{refbegin}} *{{citation|last=Villegas|first=Benjamin|last2=Sesana|first2=Laura|year=2007 |title=Colombia Natural Parks|publisher=Villegas Asociados |isbn=978-958-8156-87-3|postscript=.|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HoDPr04hHCQC }} {{refend}}

== External links == * {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110722114058/http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.020211 The park's page at Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia]

{{Protected areas of Colombia}} {{Treasures of Colombia}}

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Category:National parks of Colombia Category:Geography of Vichada Department Category:Protected areas established in 1970 Category:1970 establishments in Colombia Category:Tourist attractions in Vichada Department Category:National monuments of Colombia Category:Llanos