Salamanca Island Road Park

The Salamanca Island Road Park (Spanish: Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca) is a national park located in the Caribbean Region of Colombia, on the western outskirts of the city of Ciénaga in the Magdalena Department. The flora and fauna is in abundance because of the confluence of sweet water flowing from the Magdalena River and saline water of the Caribbean Sea. It was created in 1964^[1] to protect the abundant bird life and coastal mangroves.^[2]

Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca
Salamanca Island Road Park
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta viewed from the road park
Nearest city	Ciénaga, Colombia
Coordinates	10°56′N 74°27′W
Area	562 km2 (217 sq mi)
Established	1964[1]
Governing body	SINAP

Vía Parque is included in the Spanish name (English: Park Road) because of the road that runs through it, connecting Santa Marta with Barranquilla.^[3] In 2000 the park was designated a Biosphere reserve by UNESCO.^[4]

Climate

The climate is arid and dry and the temperature averages between 28 and 30 °C. The average yearly rainfall is 400 mm in the eastern part of the area, and 760 mm in the western part. The volume of water lost through evaporation and plant transpiration is greater than rainfall, leading to a water deficit.^[3]

Flora and fauna

Mangrove forests, tropical dry forests and riparian forest cover most of the area. The mangroves cover a third of the area (12,000 hectares)^[3] and the three predominant species are: red mangrove, black mangrove, white mangrove and buttonwood.^[5][6]

The park has an abundant variety of wildlife, many of them endangered. The existence of 33 species of mammals indicates a maintained high diversity, despite the environmental problems affecting the ecosystem. The park is home to 98 species of invertebrates, nine species of amphibians, 35 species of reptiles, more than 140 fish species and 199 birds, many of which are migratory, endemic and residents.^[5]

Footnotes

1. "Tala, quemas e invasiones amenazan el Parque Natural Isla de Salamanca en Magdalena" (in Spanish). El Tiempo. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
2. Pollard 2000, p. 185
3. Villegas & Sesana 2007, p. 70
4. "Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca" (in Spanish). Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
5. "Naturaleza y Ciencia Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca" (in Spanish). Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
6. Villegas & Sesana 2007, p. 73

References

• Pollard, Peter (2000), Colombia handbook: the travel guide, Footprint Travel Guides, ISBN 978-1-900949-71-2.
• Villegas, Benjamin; Sesana, Laura (2007), Colombia Natural Parks, Villegas Asociados, ISBN 978-958-8156-87-3.

External links

• The park's page at Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia (in Spanish)