Petrified Forest Reserve Puyango

RESERVES

Biodiversity

1 El Cajas

2 Cotopaxi

3 Galapagos

4 Llanganates

5 Machalilla

6 Podocarpus

7 Sangay

8 Sumaco

9 Yasuni

10 Limoncocha

11 Marine Galapagos

12 Antisana

13 El Angel

14 Cayambe- Coca

15 Cayapas -Mataje

16 Cotacachi - Cayapas

17 Los Ilinizas

18 Mache - Chindul

19 Churute

20 Pululahua

21 Cuyabeno

22 Chimborazo

23 Pasochoa

24 El Boliche

25 Santa Clara

26 El Condor

27 Puyango

28 Mindo

29 Ozogoche

30 Majagual

31 Jatun Sacha

32 Guandera

33 Bilsa

34 Cerro Blanco

35 Don Juan

36 Pahuma

Biodiversity

Puyango Petrified Forest

Fossilized tree trunks imbedded in other rock formations.

Some of these tree trunks turned to stone, a process which happened millions of years ago, have a diameter of one and a half meters and measure up to ten meters in length.

Huge Kapok trees or Ceiba trees are found in this provincial reserve.

Butterflies are common in the area. A beautiful one, to the right, blends beautifully in with tree trunks.

Other invertebrates like spiders and dragonflies inhabit also this region.

In the dry season most plants lose their leaves and flowers but some bloom in all their glory in that season.

Other flowers of the dry tropical forest vegetation.

Termite nests can be found throughout the reserve and trunks covered with spider webs.

Vegetation along the rivers are always more luxuriant and stay green all the year over.

Outside of the reserve the deforestation of dry tropical forests can be observed. Most trees are cut to establish pastures and only some 5% of the original forest is left in the country.

@ all photos taken by the author

RESERVES

Parks Gallery