Colombia is one of the 10 countries in the world with the greatest biodiversity. It concentrates almost 70% of all the planet’s ecosystems in just 10% of its territory, thanks in part to its two oceans, the Andes and Amazonia.
Los Nevados National Nature Park is located in Colombia’s coffee triangle, formed by the departments of Caldas, Quindio and Risaralda. Dominated by the Nevado del Ruiz volcano (5300 m), it covers 583 km2. There are a total of 8 volcanoes in the park.
The landscape is shaped by glacial activity. Magma-based rock can be found at altitudes of 2200 m and above on the western side of the park. Otún Lake, located in an extinct crater, and Green Lake are found in the area.
The park’s hydrological network supplies water to over 2,000,000 coffee plants in the region, and most of the rice and cotton is produced in the department of Tolima.
The park is home to 1,250 species of vascular plants found in the Andean valleys. The wax palm is an endangered species that can grow up to 30 m tall. Mammals include the mountain tapir, the spectacled bear, the northern pudu (a deer), the oncilla (a spotted cat similar to the wildcat), the cougar and the white-eared possum.
