Physical Map of the Reserve


 

 
There are 2 distinct areas in the reserve:


Proper Crater  (dotted line)

The volcanic crater has a base diameter of roughly 5 km (2 miles) and steep crater walls overgrown with mostly bushes and shrubs (light green parallel lines). The walls reach up to 3000m (9000 ft) with an average height of 350 m (1000 ft). There is a natural opening in the wall at the area called El Bucal (red zone), where the river gorge starts. In the crater are 3 distinct hills, Pondoña, El Chivo and Pan de Azucar, which are old dome formations, created by volcanic activities a few thousand years ago. El Reventazon ( yellow zone) is an area with with sulfur and other deposits caused by an enormous landslide a few decades ago. The bottom of the crater at 2500m (7500 ft) is presently used for farming (gray area) and the area where most of the people settled and live since more than 500 years.

River Gorge  (red zone)

The gorge starts inside the crater with an abrupt break of 50m (150 ft) and deepens farther on caused by the erosion of the Blanco river. At the village of Niebli the profundity reaches its deepest mark at around 450m ( 1350 ft) . After a run of 10 km through the gorge with almost vertical walls, the river meets the larger Guayllabamba river and eventually ends up in the Pacific ocean. This cloud forest area (dark green parallel lines) is home to a lush vegetation with tall trees and many sub-tropical plants.

 

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