{{Short description|Protected area in Ica department, Peru}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Paracas National Reserve | alt_name = Reserva Nacional de Paracas | iucn_category = VI | image = Paracas National Reserve. Ica, Peru.jpg | image_caption = Supay beach, at Paracas National Reserve | map = Peru | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | relief = yes | location = {{PER}}<br />[[Ica region|Ica]] | nearest_city = [[Pisco, Peru|Pisco]] | coordinates = {{coord|13|53|43.5|S|76|16|15.9|W|region:PE|display=it}} | area = 3350 km² | established = 25 September 1975 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = [[SERNANP]] | website = [https://www.gob.pe/institucion/sernanp/informes-publicaciones/1718991-reserva-nacional-de-paracas Reserva Nacional de Paracas] (in Spanish) | module = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_offname = Paracas | designation1_date = 30 March 1992 | designation1_number = 545<ref>{{Cite web|title=Paracas|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/545|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}} }}
'''Paracas National Reserve''' is a [[protected area]] in the region of [[Ica Region|Ica]], [[Peru]] and protects desert and marine ecosystems for their conservation and sustainable use.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-paracas|title=De Paracas - Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado|website=www.sernanp.gob.pe|language=es-ES|access-date=2018-11-09|archive-date=2021-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115234100/https://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-paracas|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are also archaeological remains of the [[Paracas culture]] inside the reserve.<ref name=":0" />
== Geography == The reserve is located in the region of Ica, 250 km south of [[Lima]], and a few kilometres from the town of [[Pisco, Peru|Pisco]].<ref name=":0" /> It spans an area of 335,000 hectares, 65% of which correspond to marine ecosystems.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.parkswatch.org/parkprofile.php?l=eng&country=per&park=panr&page=phy|title=Paracas National Reserve - Park Profile - Geography|website=www.parkswatch.org|access-date=2018-11-11|archive-date=2021-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606131433/https://www.parkswatch.org/parkprofile.php?l=eng&country=per&park=panr&page=phy|url-status=dead}}</ref> The highest elevation in the reserve is {{Convert|786|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":3" />
The reserve includes coastal geographic features such as the [[Paracas Peninsula]], Independencia Bay, [[San Gallán Island]], [[Paracas Bay]] and Independencia Island.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Plan Maestro - Reserva Nacional de Paracas 2003-2007|publisher=SERNANP|year=2002|pages=43, 164–165, 179–180|language=es}}</ref>
== Climate == {{climate chart |Pisco |17.4|27.1|0 |18.4|27.7|0 |17.9|27.8|0 |16.1|26.2|0 |14.1|23.5|0 |12.9|21.4|0 |12.3|20.5|0 |11.8|20.7|0 |12.3|21.3|1 |12.9|22.4|0 |14.1|23.3|0 |15.8|25.2|0 |float = left |clear = left |units = |source = [https://en.climate-data.org/south-america/peru/ica/pisco-25921/ Climate-Data.org] }}
Paracas National Reserve is an [[Desert climate|arid zone]], with intense local winds known as ''paracas''.<ref name=":0" /> Precipitation is scarce and occurs in winter, falling mostly on the top of the highest hills, which is vital to the [[lomas]] ecosystem.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The following climograph corresponds to the nearby town of Pisco (19 m of elevation).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/south-america/peru/ica/pisco-25921/|title=Pisco climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Pisco weather averages - Climate-Data.org|website=en.climate-data.org|access-date=2018-11-10}}</ref>
== Ecology ==
=== Flora === Some terrestrial plant species found in the reserve are: ''[[Tiquilia]] paronychoides'', ''[[Prosopis pallida]]'', ''[[Distichlis spicata]]'', ''[[Tillandsia]]'' spp., ''[[Eriosyce]] omasensis'', ''[[Geoffroea decorticans]]'', ''[[Sesuvium portulacastrum]]'', ''[[Cressa truxillensis]]'', ''[[Geranium]] limae'', ''[[Suaeda]] foliosa'' and ''[[Oxalis]] carnosa''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.parkswatch.org/parkprofile.php?l=eng&country=per&park=panr&page=bio&p=per|title=Paracas National Reserve - Park Profile - Biodiversity|website=www.parkswatch.org|access-date=2018-11-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Paracas National Reserve: 40 years|publisher=SERNANP|year=2015|pages=111|language=es, en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Johnston|first=Ivan M.|title=The Vascular Flora of the Guano Islands of Peru |date=1931|journal=Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University|issue=95|pages=26–35|doi=10.5962/p.336136 |jstor=41764132|s2cid=249076017 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":4" />
Marine algae found in the reserve include: ''[[Ulva lactuca]]'', ''[[Chondracanthus (alga)|Chondracanthus]] chamissoi'', ''[[Macrocystis pyrifera]]'' and ''[[Pyropia columbina]]''.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ramírez|first1=M. E.|last2=Santelices|first2=B.|date=1991|title=Catalogo de las algas marinas bentonicas de la costa temperada del Pacifico de Sudamerica|journal=Monografias Biologicas|language=es|volume=5|pages=1–437}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=142187&distro=y#distro|title=Pyropia columbina (Montagne) W.A.Nelson :: Algaebase|website=www.algaebase.org|access-date=2018-11-10}}</ref>
=== Fauna === The Paracas National Reserve houses a great biological diversity, especially in the marine-coastal part. It is estimated that there are about 216 species of birds, 36 of mammals, 10 of reptiles, 168 of fish and a large number of invertebrates that are an initial part of the trophic chain of this important place.
Mammals found in the reserve include: the [[sei whale]], [[South American fur seal]], [[dusky dolphin]], [[marine otter]], [[sperm whale]], [[humpback whale]], [[South American sea lion]], [[killer whale]], [[common bottlenose dolphin]] and [[southern right whale]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />
Birds found in the reserve include: the [[Andean condor]], [[Chilean flamingo]], [[spotted sandpiper]], [[oasis hummingbird]], [[Peruvian pelican]], [[Inca tern]], [[black skimmer]], [[Humboldt penguin]], [[guanay cormorant]], [[Peruvian thick-knee]], [[Andean swift]] and [[Peruvian diving petrel]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> The reserve has been designated an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]] because it supports significant populations of several bird species.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/14911|title=Reserva Nacional de Paracas|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-10-02}}</ref>
[[Mollusca|Molluscs]] found in the area include: ''[[Argopecten purpuratus]]'', ''[[Concholepas concholepas]]'', ''[[Thais chocolata]]'', ''[[Fissurella maxima]]'', ''[[Glaucus atlanticus]]'', ''[[Choromytilus chorus]]'' and ''[[Aulacomya atra]]''.<ref name=":4" />
Fish found in the reserve include: [[Merluccius gayi|Peruvian hake]], [[flathead grey mullet]], [[skipjack tuna]], [[Exocoetus volitans|blue flyingfish]], [[humpback smooth-hound]], [[copper shark]], [[Peruvian anchoveta]], [[Sarda chiliensis|eastern Pacific bonito]], [[Peruvian eagle ray]], [[Paralichthys adspersus|fine flounder]], [[blue shark]], [[Cilus gilberti|corvina]] and [[bigeye tuna]].<ref name=":4" />
== Archaeology == There are more than 100 archaeological sites identified inside the reserve, many of them of the [[Paracas culture]], known especially for their textile crafts.<ref name=":0" />
== Recreation == Beach tourism and [[wildlife observation]] are the main activities in the reserve.<ref name=":0" /> [[File:Playa Roja - Paracas National Reserve, Ica.jpg|left|thumb|285x285px|Red beach at Paracas National Reserve]] {{Clear|left}}
==Gallery== <gallery> File:LaCatedral Reserva de Paracas.jpg|La Catedral, January 2007 File:Paracus_Peru_Cathedral_2000.jpg|La Catedral, November 2000 File:Paracus Cathedral cave.JPG|A November 2000 view from within what used to be the Cathedral cave, which was destroyed in earthquake of 2007 File:The red beach of Paracas National Reserve.jpg|The red beach in Paracas National Reserve </gallery>
==See also== *[[Humboldt Current|Humboldt current]]
[[File:Me and my mates... (6235338039).jpg|thumb|306x306px|Peruvian pelicans in Paracas National Reserve]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-paracas Paracas National Reserve. Official site (in Spanish)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115234100/https://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-paracas |date=2021-01-15 }}
{{Natural and Cultural Peruvian Heritage}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1975]] [[Category:Important Bird Areas of Peru]] [[Category:Ramsar sites in Peru]] [[Category:Geography of the Department of Ica]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in the Department of Ica]] [[Category:Rock formations of Peru]]