La Corota Island Flora Sanctuary ( es, Santuario de Flora Isla de la Corota) is the smallest protected area of the Colombian National Natural Park System, covering just under 16 hectares of land and surrounding water area. Located on the

Laguna de la Cocha La Cocha Lagoon ( es, Laguna de la Cocha) is a volcanic crater lake located within the Pasto, Colombia, Pasto Municipality in Nariño Department, Nariño, Colombia. La Cocha Lagoon is Colombia's second largest inland body of water after Lake Tot ...

, the flora sanctuary serves as a natural habitat for endemic sub-tropical Andean

cloud forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...

plant species as well as a number of waterfowl, amphibians, and fish. Established as a flora and fauna sanctuary on June 6, 1977, La Corota Island has become one of the most visited national parks in Colombia having recorded 28,000 individual visitors in 2018.

Geography and climate

Located in western Colombia, La Corota Island is the only

lake island A lake island is any landmass within a lake. It is a type of inland island. Lake islands may form a lake archipelago. Formation Lake islands may form in numerous ways. They may occur through a build-up of sedimentation as shoals, and become ...

with old-growth Andean forest in the country. The sanctuary covers the entirety of the island and four hectares of surrounding water area.

Flora and fauna

Flora

*''

Hieronyma macrocarpa ''Hieronyma macrocarpa'' is a species of plant in the family (biology), family Phyllanthaceae, which was recently separated from the Euphorbiaceae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. References Hieronyma, macrocarpa Vulnerable plants Taxo ...

'' *''

Eugenia stipitata ''Eugenia stipitata'' (Araza, Portuguese common names araçá, araçá-boi , Spanish common name arazá, also known as membrio in Ecuador) is a fruit tree native to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. Description Arazá ori ...

'' *'' Befaria glauca'' *'' Hesperomeles glabrata'' *'' Drymis granantesis''

Mammals

* Soft-furred Oldfield mouse *

Chiroptera Bats are mammals of the Order (biology), order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in fli ...

Birds

* '' Fulica ardesiaca'' *

Pied-billed grebe The pied-billed grebe (''Podilymbus podiceps'') is a species of the grebe family of water birds. Because the Atitlán grebe (''Podilymbus gigas'') has become extinct, the Pied-Billed Grebe is now the sole extant member of the genus ''Podilymbus'' ...

Black-crowned night heron The black-crowned night heron (''Nycticorax nycticorax''), or black-capped night heron, commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, including parts of Europe, Asia, and N ...

Rufous-collared sparrow The rufous-collared sparrow or Andean sparrow (''Zonotrichia capensis'') is an American sparrow found in a wide range of habitats, often near humans, from the extreme south-east of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and the island of Hispaniola (split ...

* Red-crested cotinga *

Great thrush The great thrush (''Turdus fuscater'') is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It is considered as the largest thrush in South America. The great thrush's size distinguishes it ...

* Glossy-black thrush * Spectacled whitestart * Golden-fronted whitestart * Slaty brushfinch *

Sparkling violetear The sparkling violetear (''Colibri coruscans'') is a species of hummingbird widespread in highlands of northern and western South America, including a large part of the Andes (from Argentina and northwards), the Venezuelan Coastal Range, and th ...

* Collared inca

Activities

La Corota Island Flora Sanctuary offers research and recreational opportunities for its visitors. Despite its size, the island accounts for two

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

trails, the 550 meter El Quiche trail and the 200 meter La Totora trail. In addition, La Corota island is renowned as a

birdwatching Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, b ...

and

ecotourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds ...

destination.

References

External links

* {{Colombia-geo-stub National parks of Colombia 1977 establishments in Colombia