Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park
| Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park | |
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IUCN category II (national park)
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Petrohué Waterfalls (Saltos del Petrohué)
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| Location | Los Lagos Region, Chile |
| Nearest city | Puerto Varas |
| Coordinates | 41°08′30″S 72°10′23″W / 41.14167°S 72.17306°WCoordinates: 41°08′30″S 72°10′23″W / 41.14167°S 72.17306°W |
| Area | 2,530 km2 (977 sq mi) |
| Established | 1926 |
| Visitors | 332,334 (in 2012) |
| Governing body | Corporación Nacional Forestal |
Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park (Spanish pronunciation: [biˈsente ˈpeɾes roˈsales]) is located in Los Lagos Region, Llanquihue Province, of Chile. Its western entrance is close to the Ensenada locality, 82 km (51 mi) northeast of the provincial capital of Puerto Montt, and 64 km (40 mi) from Puerto Varas along Ruta CH-225. This national park covers about 2,530 km2 (977 sq mi) and is almost entirely in the Andes mountain chain. The adjacent national parks Vicente Pérez Rosales and Puyehue National Park in Chile, and Nahuel Huapi National Park and Lanín National Park in Argentina, provide a continuous protected area of close to 15,000 km2 (5,792 sq mi).
The park protects the body of Todos los Santos Lake and a large part of its catchment. The outlet of the lake at the Petrohué locality gives rise to the Petrohué River. A short distance downstream, still within the limits of the Park, the Petrohué river flows through the Petrohue Waterfalls. The Park also contains the eastern slope of Volcan Osorno, the southern slope of the Puntiagudo and the western slopes of the Tronador, with a maximum altitude of 3,491 m (11,453 ft). These mountains with year round snow give a strong imprint to the landscape.
A summary of geographical and limnological data for lake Todos los Santos is found in the database of the International Lake Environment Committee.
Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (Chilean Meteorological Service) published a climate summary for the 10th Region . Average annual precipitation in the Petrohué area (lat 41°08'S), at an elevation of 700 m (2,297 ft), is around 4,000 mm (157 in). Precipitation on the Lake surface is around 3,000 to 4,000 mm (118 to 157 in) while on the western slope of the mountains it may reach 5,000 mm (197 in) per year. The predominant air flow is from west to east and the mass of air, when lifted over the mountains, releases precipitation. Eastern slopes tend to receive less rainfall. The most rainy months are June, July and August, while the least rain is recorded in January, February and March. Average annual temperature at the inhabited levels, 3,000 to 4,000 mm (118 to 157 in) altitude, is around 11 to 12 °C (52 to 54 °F). Above 1,000 m (3,281 ft) altitude, snow persists for most of the year. During the warm summer months, average daily maximum temperature may be around 25 °C (77 °F). Vegetation growth extends over approximately 6 months of the year.
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