Bosques Nublados de Udima Wildlife Refuge (Cloud Forests of Udima Wildlife Refuge) is a protected area of located in the regions of

Cajamarca Cajamarca (), also known by the Quechua name, ''Kashamarka'', is the capital and largest city of the Cajamarca Region as well as an important cultural and commercial center in the northern Andes. It is located in the northern highlands of Peru ...

and Lambayeque,

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. The Refuge protects the flora and fauna of

Andean The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S l ...

cloud forests at elevations mostly between and . The cloud forests are the headwaters for rivers providing water for downstream irrigation of farmland. There are also archaeological sites inside the Refuge.

Description

The Cloud Forest Refuge is located mostly in the headwaters of the

Zaña River The Zaña River (also Saña River) is a small river in northern Peru. The river is in length and begins in the Andes of Cajamarca Region and ends at the Pacific Ocean in Lambayeque Region. In the lower part of the river valley, where the river ...

with a small non-contiguous section along the Chancay River and another small non-contiguous section protecting the archaeological site of Poro Poro. The main section consists of the steep slopes of an escarpment dropping sharply more than in elevation from a dissected plateau to the Zaña River. The semi-tropical forests in this section, found at elevations above , are the distinguishing feature of the Refuge. The forests are found between the desert coasts of western Peru and the rainforests of the Amazon Basin to the east. The Andes are relatively low in elevation near the Refuge and plant and animal species characteristic of the Amazon rain forest are atypically found here on the western slopes of the Andes. The Peruvian government recognized the uniqueness of the forests in 2010 by creating the "Reserved Zone of Udima" consisting of of land. The Refuge of more than 12,000 hectares was carved out of the lands of the Reserved Zone in 2011. The Zaña River flowing westwards out of the Refuge to the Pacific Ocean supplies irrigation water to an important agricultural valley, especially for

sugar cane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, perennial grass (in the genus '' Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalk ...

, centered on the town of

Zaña Zaña (also Saña) is the capital of Zaña District in the Chiclayo Province of Lambayeque region in northern Peru. It is located inland from the Pacific Ocean at an elevation of in the valley of the Zaña River. Zaña had a population of 4,5 ...

(also spelled Saña). The Zaña River valley, overlooked by the Refuge, contains many pre-Columbian archaeological sites, including the oldest known irrigation canals in the Americas. The canals are dated to 3400 BCE and possibly are as old as 4700 BCE. Most of the Refuge is located in the Catache District of Santa Cruz Province in Cajamarca Region. The village of Udima, formerly known as Hacienda Udima, elevation , is the nearest populated place, about north of the border of the Refuge. Udima had a population of 696 in 2017. The highest elevation in the Refuge is .

References

External links

Protected Planet.
{{Protected areas of Peru Geography of Cajamarca Region Protected areas established in 2011 Tourist attractions in Cajamarca Region Protected areas of Peru