# Paracas National Reserve

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Protected area in Ica department, Peru

Paracas National Reserve Reserva Nacional de Paracas IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) Supay beach, at Paracas National Reserve Location Peru Ica Nearest city Pisco Coordinates 13°53′43.5″S 76°16′15.9″W / 13.895417°S 76.271083°W / -13.895417; -76.271083 Area 3350 km² Established 25 September 1975 Governing body SERNANP Website Reserva Nacional de Paracas (in Spanish) Ramsar Wetland Official name Paracas Designated 30 March 1992 Reference no. 545[1]

**Paracas National Reserve** is a [protected area](/source/Protected_area) in the region of [Ica](/source/Ica_Region), [Peru](/source/Peru) and protects desert and marine ecosystems for their conservation and sustainable use.[2] There are also archaeological remains of the [Paracas culture](/source/Paracas_culture) inside the reserve.[2]

## Geography

The reserve is located in the region of Ica, 250 km south of [Lima](/source/Lima), and a few kilometres from the town of [Pisco](/source/Pisco%2C_Peru).[2] It spans an area of 335,000 hectares, 65% of which correspond to marine ecosystems.[3] The highest elevation in the reserve is 786 m (2,579 ft).[3]

The reserve includes coastal geographic features such as the [Paracas Peninsula](/source/Paracas_Peninsula), Independencia Bay, [San Gallán Island](/source/San_Gall%C3%A1n_Island), [Paracas Bay](/source/Paracas_Bay) and Independencia Island.[4]

## Climate

Pisco Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 27 17 0 28 18 0 28 18 0 26 16 0 24 14 0 21 13 0 21 12 0 21 12 1 21 12 0 22 13 0 23 14 0 25 16 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-Data.org Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 81 63 0 82 65 0 82 64 0 79 61 0 74 57 0 71 55 0 69 54 0 69 53 0 70 54 0 72 55 0 74 57 0 77 60 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Paracas National Reserve is an [arid zone](/source/Desert_climate), with intense local winds known as *paracas*.[2] Precipitation is scarce and occurs in winter, falling mostly on the top of the highest hills, which is vital to the [lomas](/source/Lomas) ecosystem.[2][5] The following climograph corresponds to the nearby town of Pisco (19 m of elevation).[6]

## Ecology

### Flora

Some terrestrial plant species found in the reserve are: *[Tiquilia](/source/Tiquilia) paronychoides*, *[Prosopis pallida](/source/Prosopis_pallida)*, *[Distichlis spicata](/source/Distichlis_spicata)*, *[Tillandsia](/source/Tillandsia)* spp., *[Eriosyce](/source/Eriosyce) omasensis*, *[Geoffroea decorticans](/source/Geoffroea_decorticans)*, *[Sesuvium portulacastrum](/source/Sesuvium_portulacastrum)*, *[Cressa truxillensis](/source/Cressa_truxillensis)*, *[Geranium](/source/Geranium) limae*, *[Suaeda](/source/Suaeda) foliosa* and *[Oxalis](/source/Oxalis) carnosa*.[7][8][5][4]

Marine algae found in the reserve include: *[Ulva lactuca](/source/Ulva_lactuca)*, *[Chondracanthus](/source/Chondracanthus_(alga)) chamissoi*, *[Macrocystis pyrifera](/source/Macrocystis_pyrifera)* and *[Pyropia columbina](/source/Pyropia_columbina)*.[7][9][10]

### 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](/source/Sei_whale), [South American fur seal](/source/South_American_fur_seal), [dusky dolphin](/source/Dusky_dolphin), [marine otter](/source/Marine_otter), [sperm whale](/source/Sperm_whale), [humpback whale](/source/Humpback_whale), [South American sea lion](/source/South_American_sea_lion), [killer whale](/source/Killer_whale), [common bottlenose dolphin](/source/Common_bottlenose_dolphin) and [southern right whale](/source/Southern_right_whale).[2][4]

Birds found in the reserve include: the [Andean condor](/source/Andean_condor), [Chilean flamingo](/source/Chilean_flamingo), [spotted sandpiper](/source/Spotted_sandpiper), [oasis hummingbird](/source/Oasis_hummingbird), [Peruvian pelican](/source/Peruvian_pelican), [Inca tern](/source/Inca_tern), [black skimmer](/source/Black_skimmer), [Humboldt penguin](/source/Humboldt_penguin), [guanay cormorant](/source/Guanay_cormorant), [Peruvian thick-knee](/source/Peruvian_thick-knee), [Andean swift](/source/Andean_swift) and [Peruvian diving petrel](/source/Peruvian_diving_petrel).[7][4] The reserve has been designated an [Important Bird Area](/source/Important_Bird_Area) (IBA) by [BirdLife International](/source/BirdLife_International) because it supports significant populations of several bird species.[11]

[Molluscs](/source/Mollusca) found in the area include: *[Argopecten purpuratus](/source/Argopecten_purpuratus)*, *[Concholepas concholepas](/source/Concholepas_concholepas)*, *[Thais chocolata](/source/Thais_chocolata)*, *[Fissurella maxima](/source/Fissurella_maxima)*, *[Glaucus atlanticus](/source/Glaucus_atlanticus)*, *[Choromytilus chorus](/source/Choromytilus_chorus)* and *[Aulacomya atra](/source/Aulacomya_atra)*.[4]

Fish found in the reserve include: [Peruvian hake](/source/Merluccius_gayi), [flathead grey mullet](/source/Flathead_grey_mullet), [skipjack tuna](/source/Skipjack_tuna), [blue flyingfish](/source/Exocoetus_volitans), [humpback smooth-hound](/source/Humpback_smooth-hound), [copper shark](/source/Copper_shark), [Peruvian anchoveta](/source/Peruvian_anchoveta), [eastern Pacific bonito](/source/Sarda_chiliensis), [Peruvian eagle ray](/source/Peruvian_eagle_ray), [fine flounder](/source/Paralichthys_adspersus), [blue shark](/source/Blue_shark), [corvina](/source/Cilus_gilberti) and [bigeye tuna](/source/Bigeye_tuna).[4]

## Archaeology

There are more than 100 archaeological sites identified inside the reserve, many of them of the [Paracas culture](/source/Paracas_culture), known especially for their textile crafts.[2]

## Recreation

Beach tourism and [wildlife observation](/source/Wildlife_observation) are the main activities in the reserve.[2]

Red beach at Paracas National Reserve

## Gallery

		- La Catedral, January 2007

		- La Catedral, November 2000

		- A November 2000 view from within what used to be the Cathedral cave, which was destroyed in earthquake of 2007

		- The red beach in Paracas National Reserve

## See also

- [Humboldt current](/source/Humboldt_Current)

Peruvian pelicans in Paracas National Reserve

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Paracas"](https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/545). *[Ramsar](/source/Ramsar_Convention) Sites Information Service*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:0_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-:0_2-7) ["De Paracas - Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210115234100/https://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-paracas). *www.sernanp.gob.pe* (in European Spanish). Archived from [the original](http://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-paracas) on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2018-11-09.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_3-1) ["Paracas National Reserve - Park Profile - Geography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210606131433/https://www.parkswatch.org/parkprofile.php?l=eng&country=per&park=panr&page=phy). *www.parkswatch.org*. Archived from [the original](https://www.parkswatch.org/parkprofile.php?l=eng&country=per&park=panr&page=phy) on 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2018-11-11.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:4_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:4_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:4_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:4_4-5) *Plan Maestro - Reserva Nacional de Paracas 2003-2007* (in Spanish). SERNANP. 2002. pp. 43, 164–165, 179–180.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_5-1) Johnston, Ivan M. (1931). ["The Vascular Flora of the Guano Islands of Peru"](https://doi.org/10.5962%2Fp.336136). *Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University* (95): 26–35. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5962/p.336136](https://doi.org/10.5962%2Fp.336136). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [41764132](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41764132). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [249076017](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:249076017).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Pisco climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Pisco weather averages - Climate-Data.org"](https://en.climate-data.org/south-america/peru/ica/pisco-25921/). *en.climate-data.org*. Retrieved 2018-11-10.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_7-2) ["Paracas National Reserve - Park Profile - Biodiversity"](https://www.parkswatch.org/parkprofile.php?l=eng&country=per&park=panr&page=bio&p=per). *www.parkswatch.org*. Retrieved 2018-11-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** *Paracas National Reserve: 40 years* (in Spanish and English). SERNANP. 2015. p. 111.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ramírez, M. E.; Santelices, B. (1991). "Catalogo de las algas marinas bentonicas de la costa temperada del Pacifico de Sudamerica". *Monografias Biologicas* (in Spanish). **5**: 1–437.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Pyropia columbina (Montagne) W.A.Nelson :: Algaebase"](http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=142187&distro=y#distro). *www.algaebase.org*. Retrieved 2018-11-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bli_11-0)** ["Reserva Nacional de Paracas"](https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/14911). *BirdLife Data Zone*. BirdLife International. 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-02.

## External links

- [Paracas National Reserve. Official site (in Spanish)](http://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-paracas) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210115234100/https://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-paracas) 2021-01-15 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Paracas National Reserve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracas_National_Reserve) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracas_National_Reserve?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.