Uramba Bahía Málaga National Natural Park, is one of the newest Colombian national parks and a popular ecotourism destination. It is located in and around Málaga Bay on the Colombian Pacific coast in the municipality of Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. It is an area of high biodiversity and a favorite spot for reproducing humpback whales, making this area a popular whale watching destination. Most of natural area is pristine with the exception of the areas around a few small towns like Juanchaco, Ladrilleros, and La Barra, as well as a Colombian naval base. The national park was created in 2010 and is Colombia's 56th national natural park.[1]
| Parque Natural Nacional Uramba Bahía Málaga | |
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| Location | Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia |
| Nearest city | Buenaventura |
| Coordinates | 04°01′N 77°26′W / 4.017°N 77.433°W |
| Area | 471 km2 (182 sq mi) |
| Established | 2010 |
| Governing body | SINAP |
Geography
editThe protected area is composed of 471 km2 (182 sq mi) of coastal land and marine areas.
Biodiversity
editThe ecosystems found within the protected area include wet tropical forest, transitional forest, flooded forest, mangroves, estuaries, beaches, and pelagic zones.[2]
The main animal of interest in this area is the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). The whales use the waters of this protected area to raise calves between June and October. It is said that this area has the largest concentration of breeding humpbacks along the Colombian Pacific coast.
References
edit- ^ "Bahía Málaga es, al fin, Parque Nacional Natural". Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Parque Nacional Natural Uramba Bahía Málaga". Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2012.