Juan Crisóstomo Falcón National Park

Juan Crisóstomo Falcón
la Sierra de San Luis
IUCN category II (national park)
National Park Sign for the Spanish Way
Location of Juan Crisóstomo Falcón
Nearest city	Coro
Coordinates	11°08′59″N 69°41′24″W / 11.149858°N 69.689882°WCoordinates: 11°08′59″N 69°41′24″W / 11.149858°N 69.689882°W
Area	20,000 hectares (49,000 acres)
Established	May 6, 1987
Governing body	INPARQUES
http://diversidadbiologica.info.ve/diversidadbiologica.php?seccion=2&target=detailed&category=05-PNOO&subcategory=PNOO0022

The Juan Crisostomo Falcón National Park, also known as the Sierra de San Luis, is in the southern part of the Falcón state in Venezuela. It has an area of 20,000 hectares (49,000 acres) covering the municipalities of Bolívar, Petit, and part of the municipalities of Colina and Miranda. It was created in 1987.^[1]

The topography of the park is mountainous, with the highest point being Cerro Galicia at 1,600 metres (5,200 ft). It features rich ecosystems ranging from rain cloud forest to savannah. Much of it is covered with karst landscape with many caves and shafts, and the springs welling out from the flanks of the sierra provide water for Coro, Punto Fijo and Cumarebo, particularly the Paraguaná Peninsula and its oil refining industry.^[1]

It is a tourist destination, with the main attractions including birdwatching and nature observation; Cerro Galicia, the highest hill in the district; the Hueque resurgence cave and associated waterfalls; the Acarite river cave; the 305 metres (1,001 ft) deep Haitón del Guarataro, the deepest limestone cave in Venezuela; and the Spanish Way, a road built in colonial times.^[1][2]

References

1. "Juan Crisóstomo Falcón (Sierra de San Luis)". Gobierno Bolivariano de Venezuela. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
2. Kohn, Beth (2007). Lonely Planet Venezuela. Lonely Planet. p. 154. Retrieved 28 December 2013.