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Sajama
National Park is situated in the southwestern
part of Oruro Department in the Province of
Sajama. It borders on the Department of
La Paz to the north and Chile’s Lauca
National Park to the west.
The park enjoys an annual average temperature
of 10 °C (50 °F), with a low in winter of
–30 °C (-22 °F) and a daytime high of 22
°C (71.6 °F). There is frost
throughout the year and a rainy season in the
summer. The rivers in the area belong to
the inward flowing high plateau river system
dominated by the Sajama, Tomarapi and
Esquillani Rivers.
Important volcanic cones, like Mount Sajama
and the Payachatas are located in the park,
together with several lagoons and high lying
Andean marshes, where hardy and silicified
grasses and a variety of rosette-shaped plants
are to be found.
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Access |
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The
Park can be easily reached by taking the new
paved Patacamaya -Tambo Quemado highway that
links up La Paz, Oruro with Arica, Chile.
Other possible routes are:
1. La Paz - Patacamaya- Lagunas - Sajama.
2. Oruro - Toledo - Jankocala - Turco - Cosapa
-Sajama.
3. La Paz - Corocoro - Calacoto - Charaña -
Sepulturas - Sajama.
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Tourist attractions |
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 Imposing
Mt. Sajama gives this national park an
exceptional natural beauty. Other
attractions include high lying Andean lagoons,
thermal springs and coveted mountain climbing
trails. The queñua forests are
of particular scientific interest because of
their unique location at this altitude.
Its natural high mountain features make the
site a fascinating one.
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 Plant
life
The area is known for its queñua
(Polylepis tarapacana) forests, which climb
above 5,200 masl, making them the world’s
highest lying woody formation. Also
noteworthy are the marshes with their large pulvínulos
or clumps of yareta and wet grasslands
and Parastrephia lepidophylla tholares(?)-The
most important plants are queñua and yareta
(Azorella compacta), both of which are
endangered species in the Andean subregion.
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 Animal
life
Andean fauna is plentiful, particularly
vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna), quirquinchos
(Chaetophractus nationi), Andean cats or titi
(Felis jacobita), pumas (Felis concolor), and
large birds like the ostrich (Pterocnemia
pennata) and the chocka (Fulica
gigantea), together with a wide variety of
small birds.
This is an appropriate region for the
implementation of conservation, endangered
species recovery and vicuña management
programs. Wildlife management
constitutes an important alternative for
improving the living conditions of local
inhabitants. The area is an significant
reservoir of genetic species, particularly
those relating to alpaca breeding and
selection.
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 Population
The people populating the area belong to the
Aymará culture and are among those who best
conserve their traditional social
organization, customs and mythical-religious
beliefs, etc. Over 300 families are
believed to live in the park’s area of
influence and nearly 100 within its
boundaries. Almost all of these dwellers
make their living from animal husbandry,
particularly alpaca breeding and fabric
spinning and weaving.
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 Archeology
Within the area are archeological and
historical sites of great cultural value, like
the Chullperios or necropolises,
pictographs and pre-Columbian ruins.
Colonial churches with noteworthy features are
also to be found there.
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