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| CARARA
NATIONAL PARK |
CENTRAL
PACIFIC REGION |
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As it is a transition zone between a drier region to the north
and a wetter one to the south, Carara represents a wide diversity of plant life
with over 1400 plant species and with evergreen species predominant. Crossed
by diverse streams mostly with permanent waters, in the dry season the park
is an oasis of freshness and greenery.
Northeast of the park the seasonal flooding of the river Grande de Tárcoles
forms numerous swamps that are very rich in wading birds as well as amphibians
and reptiles. A U-shaped lagoon some 600 m long, 40 m wide and 2 m deep occupies
an oxbow lake left by this river. This lagoon is practically totally covered
in water hyacinths and other floating aquatic plants.
In this environment several species of amphibians and reptiles like crocodiles
( Crocodylos acutus ), up to 4 m long, and birds like the roseate spoonbills
( Ajaija ajaja ), anhingas ( Anhinga anhinga ) and jacanas ( Jacana spinosa
). It is also easy to see crocodiles in large numbers in the Río Grande
de Tárcoles.
Primary forests occupy most of the park. Lomas Pizote and the
Jamaica Mountains are two areas that are representative of this habitat with
20-60% slopes, very wet with different with great lianas and epiphytes. The
gallery forests at the edges of the rivers are tall, dense and diverse in tree
species with predominance of espave ( Anacardium excelsum ), ojoche ( Brosimum
alicastrum ) and possum wood ( Hura crepitans ), which has a very caustic latex.
Many of the trees have buttresses. The secondary forests grow on land that was
previously used for arable and livestock agriculture. Carara represents the
most northerly distribution limit of several tree species such as purpleheart
( Peltogyne purpurea ), butternut tree ( Caryocar costaricense ) and the cow
tree ( Brosimum utile ).
Besides the abundant aquatic fauna in the lagoon and the swamps, there is varied
animal life, including the rare two toe sloth ( Choloespus hoffmanni ) and the
rare scarlet macaw which has practically disappeared from the rest of the Dry
Pacific Region. In Lomas Entierro a native cemetery was excavated, and in the
rest of the reserve further 14 sites have been located.
We always recommend to visit Carara very early in the morning
or late in the afternoon for higher chances to see the birds and animals.
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