Puyehue National Park

Puyehue National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Waterfall
Location	Los Lagos Region, Chile
Nearest city	Osorno
Coordinates	40°38′56″S 72°5′4″W / 40.64889°S 72.08444°W / -40.64889; -72.08444Coordinates: 40°38′56″S 72°5′4″W / 40.64889°S 72.08444°W / -40.64889; -72.08444
Area	1,070 km2 (413 sq mi)
Established	1941
Visitors	133,037 (in 2012)
Governing body	Corporación Nacional Forestal

Puyehue National Park (Spanish pronunciation: [puˈjewe]) is located in the Andes mountain range, in Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions of Chile formerly referred to as the 10th region. The park boast 220,000 acres of natural thermal springs, volcanoes, and evergreen forests, after having been expanded in 1950 and 1981. The park is Chile’s most visited national park with 400,000 people enjoying it each year. Puyehue National park forms part of the Reserve of Temperate Rainy Forest Biospheres of the Southern Andes.Chile Route 215 passes through the park, which connects with the Argentine Route 231 via Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass.

The park lies in the Osorno Province, town of Puyehue. It is 118 miles northeast of Puerto Montt, or 50 miles east of Osorno.

The park is dominated by Puyehue volcano, Cordón Caulle and Antillanca Group. The park is divided into three main areas: Aguas Calientes, Anticura, and Antillanca. Each area has special activities according to its landscape. Aguas Calientes feature natural thermal baths and hiking trails. Anticura area features the Puyehue volcano, the El Puma lookout point, the Cordón Caulle and hot springs, a volcanic area, and a strawberry field, called the Pampa de Frutilla, the Salto de la Princesa, a waterfall of an inlet of the Golgol river, and an 800-year-old forest of coigüe trees, as well as recreational trails. The Antillanca area features crater Raihuén and Mirador hill, the Las Gaviotas river (río Las Gaviotas) as well as the Rupanco Lake (lago Rupanco). Furthermore, there is skiing at the Antillanca ski center, on the slopes of the Casablanca volcano.