Reserve Payunia i located in the Department of Malargüe, south of the province of Mendoza. It is located in the foothills of Mendoza, and has an average of 10.6 volcanoes every hundred square kilometers. You reach it through the National Route 40 and then Provincial Route 186, and is 160 km from the city of Malargüe.
It is one of the areas with the highest concentration of volcanic planet, with more than 800 volcanic cones, plus a lava slag many colors, which are an amazing landscape. Lava plains with volcanic cones are the main attraction of the place, besides the Volcano Payún Matrú between basaltic and campospiroclásticos.
It was declared a protected area in 1988, and its total area reaches 450,000 hectares. Besides Payún Matrú volcano, another popular attraction is the Santa Maria volcano. Also the Black Pampas, a great plain of black sand, and Lonco Vaca. Within the flora of the Payunia are bushes and colimalil ppastizales. Also retamillo, algarobos, patagüillajarillas, coirón and mellow.
The fauna has at least 70 different species, and 37 are considered high probability of sighting. Among them, we find condor, puma, rhea, rattlesnake, eagle blackberry, Patagonian piche, foxes and guanacos in quantity. It is also possible to see the frogs called four eyes, a very interesting for lovers of biology species. The tour is available all year, but only authorized by the Department of Tourism of Malargüe guides. You can perform activities such as trekking, photographic safaris, wildlife watching, horseback riding and hiking in 4×4 vehicles.
Photo: Web.
