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Darien National Park
Forming a bridge between the two continents of the New World, Darien National Park contains an exceptional variety of habitats ? sandy beaches, rocky coasts, mangroves, swamps, and lowland and upland tropical forests containing remarkable wildlife. Two Indian tribes live in the park.
VEGETATION Contains the most extensive lowland tropical forest on the Central America Pacific coast. Darién contains a wide range of habitats: sandy beaches, rocky coasts, mangroves, freshwater marshes, palm forest swamps and lowland and upland moist tropical forest. Darién forests have been characterised by scientists as the most diverse ecosystems of tropical America and are still relatively undisturbed. The eroded landslides and associated gorges have given rise to successional plant communities, with major tracts of primary and secondary forests covering most of the terrain. The average height of the monsoon forest is approximately 40m with occasional dominant trees reaching 50m. The most abundant species in the area is "cuipo" Cavanillesia platanifolia. Premontane and montane forests occur above 200m, with several types of botanically interesting ecosystems including cloud forest and the elfin forest of Cerro Pirre. Wetland forest along the Chucunaque and Tuira rivers is often covered by pure stands of "cativo" Prioria copaifera (I), this species being the most utilised timber tree in the region. Mangroves along the Pacific coast comprise Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia nitida, Laguncularia racemosa, Mora oleifera (V) and Pterocarpus officinalis.
FAUNA There have been few studies of the fauna. Mammals include bush dog Speothos venaticus (V), giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla (V), jaguar Panthera onca, ocelot Felis pardalis, capybara Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris, douroucoulis Aotus trivirgatus, howler monkey Alouatta villosa, brown-headed spider monkey Ateles fusciceps (V), Baird's tapir Tapirus bairdii (V), agoutis Dasyprocta punctata and Aguti paca, and white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari. Harpy eagle Harpia harpyia (R) also occurs in the park, as do Cayman crocodile Caiman crocodilus and American crocodile Crocodylus acutus (V).
CULTURAL HERITAGE The area is both anthropologically and historically rich, with two major indigenous groups: Chocos (1,000 Emberas and Vainanas) and Kunas (200), and a number of smaller groups still living by traditional practices. The area was visited by Spanish conquistadors and the coast was explored by Christopher Columbus in 1502. In 1510, the town of Santa Maria la Antigua del Darién was established probably somewhere within the park boundaries. As a result of the Spanish presence and mistreatment, many of the Indians moved away. Today, conservation of the Indian's culture is included as a management objective. There are a number of archaeological sites.
LOCAL HUMAN POPULATION Approximately 1,000 Chocos and 200 Kunas Indians live along the edges of the rivers. These groups have maintained their subsistence agricultural systems through centuries of European contact. On the western boundary of the park, there are a number of small farming plots whose owners have no title deeds.
PHYSICAL FEATURES This park is in a unique geographical position, as it forms a land-bridge between the Central and South American continents. It has emerged from below sea-level on several occasions, the most recent being in the early Pleistocene. The eastern part is primarily of volcanic origin covered with sedimentary rock of the Cenozoic period. The park's principal geomorphic feature is the north-east to south-east geosyncline which is surrounded by raised folds and high mountains. The Pacific tides (from 3.8m to 6.1m) influence the Chucunaque and Tuira rivers for many kilometres inland. Natural erosion has resulted in numerous landslides with deep cuts and gorges.
CLIMATE Mean annual temperature is 26°C and annual rainfall ranges between 2500mm and 3500mm on the Atlantic side and 1800mm-2500mm in the central part of the area and on the Pacific side.
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posted to World Heritage Sites. at Thu Jul 17 22:29:00 EDT 2003.
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(Posted by guest: elzbieta perkowska)