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Ubication: Lara, Trujillo and Portuguesa State
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Location
In
the Barbacoas Sierra, at the headwaters of the Tocuyo
river, encompassing the states of Lara, Trujillo and
Portuguesa.
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How to get there
By
land, following several routes. The one that leads to El
Tocuyo, and from there to El Rincón. The road from
Guanare to Biscucuy.
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Characteristics
Here
the most important river of the central-western region,
the Tocuyo river, has its headwaters. Thanks to it,
tomatoes and onions can be eaten year-round in Caracas.
Located in the Sierra of Barbacoas, at the confluence of
four valleys, Jabón, Badilla, Aranda and Porras, it has
great value as a water-protected area, as well as a
scenic place. Its name, Dinira, derives from the Arawak
word "Dinta", which means pointed hills in the
shape of the breasts of a woman, alluding to the fact
that it gives sap and life to important resources. The
landscape is mountainous with an uneven topography and
U-shaped valleys, as if they were prints from glaciers
that once crossed the region. In certain parts, small
terraces, used in agriculture, have formed. The altitude
ranges between 1,000 and 3,500 m. Certain caves of
karstic origin are found in the park, like La Peonía
and El Zumbador; glacier lagoons in the higher parts,
and waterfalls, such as El Vino, 90 m. high, and the
Humo-caro, 30 m. high. The park is vital because several
rivers have their headwaters here. Besides the Tocuyo
river, the headwaters of the Guanare river, which feeds
the Tucupido dam, are also in the park. The source of
the Curarigua and Morere rivers is on the northern
slope. To the west, there are the Jira-jara, Carache and
Monay rivers, which are affluents of the Motatán, which
flows into the Maracaibo Lake. And the headwaters of the
Boconó river are to the south.
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Vegetation
Thanks
to its extension and location, four large groups of
vegetation are found here: forest, paramo, forest
plantations and savannas. At least 42 species of
wide-crown trees have been recorded in the forests. The
paramo zone occupies 5% of the park, and the largest is
the Páramo de Cendé, 3,652 m. high, with several
species of espeletias. There are also forest plantations
started decades ago as a conservation and recovery
measure, with species like the eucalyptus, flamboyant,
and "Radiata" and "Caribe" pines.
Savannas occupy the low sections, and they are presently
subject to natural recovery.
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Fauna
The
fauna is representative of the area, but not very
abundant due to agricultural activities. Here there are
several endangered species, like the spectacled bear,
the jaguar, and the brocket deer.
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Recomendations
The
park itself occupies a large agricultural area. Travel
around the vicinity of the park is possible through dirt
roads. It has numerous points of interest for camping,
as long as regulations are observed.
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Facilities
Very
few, except for those which can be found in the nearby
villages.
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Climate
Temperatures
range between 16º C. and 20ºC. although it can drop to
4º. in the higher parts. Annnual rainfall of 1,300 mm.
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Surface
42.000
ha.
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Information
INPARQUES
Tlf. (051) 54.50.65*23.66 * (02) 285.50.56. Fax
285.30.70.
National
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