Farallones de Cali is a cluster of mountains in the West Andes of Colombia. It is located west of the city of Cali and gives rise to many of the rivers that provide water and electricity to Cali. The PNN Farallones de Cali encompasses in the mountains as well as much of the Pacific slope and is an area of very high
biodiversity
Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...
. The average temperature ranges from in the tropical foothills to in the páramo. In this territory are located the district of Pichinde, Andes and Leonera, and two villages Penas Blancas and Lomas de la Cajita.
Climate and topography
Average yearly rainfall is in the Pacific region and in the mountainous sector. Plants growing in the area have sufficient water throughout the year.
The topography of the park is characterized by the high, craggy peaks, the highest being . These peaks are referred to as ''Los Farallones'' (which means ''cliffs''), the namesake of the mountains and national park. The foothills on the eastern side meet the Cauca Valley and the city of Cali. On the west slope there are numerous river canyons that wind their way toward the
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...
.
The Farrallones are visible from the city of Cali.
Rivers
On the east slope the following rivers flow from the Farallones de Cali (from north to south): Cali, Pichindé, Cañaveralejo, Melendez, Lilí, Pance, and Jamundí. These river all flow into the
Cauca River
The Cauca River () is a river in Colombia that lies between the Occidental and Central cordilleras. From its headwaters in southwestern Colombia near the city of Popayán, it joins the Magdalena River near Magangue in Bolivar Department, and ...
.
On the west slope there are many rivers flowing into the Pacific, but the main ones area the Dagua and Anchicayá. There is a hydroelectric dam on the Anchicayá River.
National Park and biodiversity
The PNN Farallones de Cali is the largest national park in the Valle del Cauca Department and was formed in 1968. The area is popular for hiking and birdwatching. Access from Cali is by two main routes: by way of the Pance River at the southern end or at the northern end via Peñas Blancas or the Pichindé River. Access to the Anchicayá area is via the town of El Queremal. The lowest altitude of the park is in the Pacific lowlands.
Ecological zones
Due to extreme height of the mountains and the nearby
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...
, which largely determines the climate in western Colombia, there are various ecosystems in the park such as lowland jungle, mountain cloud forest and páramo.
:Tropical Wet to Humid Forest is located between and above sea level. It is characterized by tall
rain forest
Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainforest ...
trees and a
canopy
Canopy may refer to:
Plants
* Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests)
* Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes
Religion and ceremonies
* Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an ...
reaching up to . This area is on the western slope of the West Andes and is part of the Chocó Biogeographic Region. One of the key areas of biodiversity is centered around the upper Anchicayá River watershed.
:Subtropical Cloud Forest is situated between and . The cloud forest is usually blanketed in fog and inside the forest it is extremely mossy with many
epiphytes
An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
. This ecosystem is also referred to as ''Subandean Forest - Bosque Subandino''.
:Montane Forest is located between and . This high mountain forest is characterized by dense vegetation and a canopy that reaches up to . As the elevation increases the tree height generally decreases. This ecosystem is also referred to as ''Andean Forest - Bosque Andino''.
:Páramo is situated above the treeline at altitudes over . This ecosystem is geographically isolated from other
Northern Andean páramo
The Northern Andean páramo (NT1006) is an ecoregion containing páramo vegetation above the treeline in the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador.
In the past, when the climate was cooler, the treeline and the páramo units were lower and the units were c ...
s and is unique in the fact that it does not have the characteristic ''
Espeletia
''Espeletia'', commonly known as 'frailejones' ("big monks"), is a genus of perennial subshrubs, in the family Asteraceae. The genus, which is native mainly to Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, was first formally described in 1808. The genus was ...
'' plant of the Colombian páramo.
The ecosystems in the park face several threats including commercial logging, illegal mining, agriculture, tourism, forest fires, hunting and road construction.
Characteristic fauna
Birds
The Farallones de Cali is home to probably more than 300+ species of birds, including several endemic species such as the
multicolored tanager
The multicoloured tanager (''Chlorochrysa nitidissima'') is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is endemic to the mountains of Colombia, and as of 2010 has been categorized as vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN.
Description
The multicolor ...
(''Chlorochrysa nitidissima''),
crested ant-tanager
The crested ant tanager (''Habia cristata'') is a bird in the family Cardinalidae. It is endemic to Colombia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The crested ant tanager was originally placed in family Thraupidae, the "true" tanagers. In the early 2000 ...
(''Habia cristata'') and
chestnut wood-quail
The chestnut wood quail (''Odontophorus hyperythrus'') is a bird species in the family Odontophoridae, the New World quail. It is found only in Colombia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The chestnut wood quail has at various times been proposed or ...
(''Odontophorus hyperythrus'').
Andean cock-of-the-rock
The Andean cock-of-the-rock (''Rupicola peruvianus''), also known as ''tunki'' (Quechua), is a large passerine bird of the cotinga family native to Andean cloud forests in South America. It is widely regarded as the national bird of Peru. It ha ...
(''Rupicola peruvianus'')
leks
A lek is an aggregation of male animals gathered to engage in competitive displays and courtship rituals, known as lekking, to entice visiting females which are surveying prospective partners with which to mate. A lek can also indicate an avail ...
can be observed, the most famous being in the Peñas Blancas area of the Pichindé River valley. The avian diversity of the Anchicayá is world-renowned.
Mammals
Mammal species that are possible throughout the various habitats include: bats, squirrels,
procyonids
Procyonidae is a New World family of the order Carnivora. It comprises the raccoons, ringtails, cacomistles, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, and olinguitos. Procyonids inhabit a wide range of environments and are generally omnivorous.
Characte ...
felid
Felidae () is the family of mammals in the order Carnivora colloquially referred to as cats, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a felid (). The term "cat" refers both to felids in general and specifically to the dom ...
s, foxes, and marsupials. The spectacled bear (''Tremarctos ornatus'') has suitable habitat on the western slope of the mountains and is listed as a vulnerable species.
Five primates species exist within the park:
*
White-headed capuchin
White-faced capuchin, or white headed capuchin, can refer to either of two species of gracile capuchin monkey:
* ''Cebus imitator'', the Panamanian white-faced capuchin, also known as the Panamanian white-headed capuchin or Central American w ...
Mantled howler
The mantled howler (''Alouatta palliata'') is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central and South America. It is one of the monkey species most often seen and heard in the wild in Central America. It takes its "mantle ...
*
Gray-bellied night monkey
The gray-bellied night monkey (''Aotus lemurinus''), also called the grey-legged douroucouliColombian spider monkey (''Ateles fusciceps rufiventris''): listed as critically endangered; referred to as ''Marimonda'' in Colombia.
Amphibians
*''
Bufo hypomelas
''Rhaebo hypomelas'' is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Colombia and known from the Pacific/Chocó natural region, Chocó region in the departments of Antioquia Department, Antioquia, Chocó Department, Chocó, Risara ...
On the western slope, between 200 and 1,000 m, there is a dry tropical forest with trees up to 40 m high. Beneath these trees grow tall grasses. There are different kinds of lianas and woody
vine
A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...
s. On top of tree branches there are numerous epiphytes. Some endemical species are called cargadera, guabo sleeper, wild cacao and sirop. Among the palms of this forest there is taparín, barrigona or pambil and cumbi.
In the temperate zone, between 1,000 and 2,000 meters the most representative tree species are oak, sapote bush, media cara, encenillo, azuceno, white yarumo and
balsa
''Ochroma pyramidale'', commonly known as the balsa tree, is a large, fast-growing tree native to the Americas. It is the sole member of the genus ''Ochroma''. The tree is famous for its wide usage in woodworking, with the name ''balsa'' being ...
.
The cold zone, between 2,400 and 3,600 meters, abounds in epiphytes. Above 3,600 meters starts the moorlands, where frailejones are the characteristic plant. Among the Farallones endemisms there is a wild violet.
Geology
Sites of interest
El Topacio
Acampadero Pance very close to town. To spend the night in a tent needed a permit from the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Valle del Cauca - CVC. The parking area is very limited. It has basic services, including a radio station in the ranger's house. From Topaz can visit two waterfalls.
Pico de Loro
The trail starts at the Topaz. The upgrade can take several hours depending on the climber. At its peak, at 2832 meters above sea level is part of the city of Cali, Cauca river and its valley. No acampadero on top, on the rise there are several springs.
Punta Pance
With 4020 meters is a journey that can take one or two days, recommended for those with more experience as walkers. At the top is a unique view of the region. On clear days you can see to the west and the Pacific Ocean port of Buenaventura (really clear days you can see the larger vessels) looks eastward Cali, the river Cauca and valley, and eventually the Cordillera Central with sticking the Nevado del Huila, in the south-west you can see the Cerro Naya, to the northwest is the Cerro Calima.
You can camp at a place known as "Balconies" which has a spring and a wide area to accommodate tents 5-10. Another possibility is to climb a little higher and camping in Punta Pance Lagoons.
Alto del Buey
A 3480 m. His ascent is made from the input to Peñas Blancas and can take a whole day on a road in good condition. From the top is Part of Buenaventura and Cali. The camping area is limited allowing no more than 2 or 3 stores.
Gaps of Alto del Buey
It's tortuous descent from the top of the Ox, but sometimes necessary in the absence of water on top. From above gaps are much larger than they actually are. Remember to always go with a guide.
Valley de los Osos
Accessible from the mountain edge north of Punta Pance and towards the western side, there is a river and you see that landscape has been altered by man. It is located between the blade tip and the Massif Cajambres.
Macizo Cajambres
To the west of Punta Pance, after passing the Valley of the Bears. It shows some erosion in its eastern slopes.
Peñas Blancas
Gallery
File:Cajambres.jpg, Macizo Cajambres & Valle de los Osos
File:Penas Blancas.jpg, Peñas Blancas
Image:PanoFarallonesPage-JesusAlfonsoLopez.jpg, Panorama
File:Los Farallones.jpg, Panorama
File:Punta Pance.jpg, Punta Pance from the northeast
File:Punta Pance desde el noreste.JPG, Punta Pance from the southeast
File:Casa guardabosques el Topacio.JPG, Ranger Home - El Topacio
File:Selva Humeda Farallones de Cali.JPG, Rainforest
File:Anchicaya River.JPG, Anchicayá River
See also
*
List of national parks of Colombia
The protected areas of Colombia are grouped into the National System of Protected Areas. As of 2018, there are 59 nationally protected areas which cover about and represent more than 14% of the country's area.
National Natural Park System
T ...
*
Andean Region, Colombia
The Andean region, located in central Colombia, is the most populated natural region of Colombia. With many mountains, the Andes contain most of the country's urban centers.Pacific Region, Colombia
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
*
List of mountains in the Andes
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby unio ...
*
List of Ultras of South America
This is a list of the 209 ultra prominent peaks, or Ultras in South America. An ''Ultra'' is a mountain summit with a topographic prominence of or more.
Guiana Highlands
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Cordillera Oriental, Cordillera de Mér ...