pasto, colombia – orchid paradise found

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ISSN 2325-4785 New World Orchidaceae – Nomenclatural Notes Nomenclautral Note – Issue No. 12 Pasto, Colombia – Orchid Paradise Found July 7, 2014 Pasto, Colombia - Orchid Paradise Found Ruben P. and Claudia E. Sauleda 22585 S. W. 187 Avenue Miami, Florida 33170 Colombia, for many years has been avoided by orchid enthusiasts and botanists due to the press reports of violence by the narco-terroists . With the election of Alvaro Uribe as President, a graduate of Harvard University, in 2002 and under his direction, Colombia has become a safe country to travel in and a very prosperous country. The recent election of Juan Manuel Santos as President, also a graduate of Harvard University, will ensure that Colombia will continue to be safe and prosperous Colombia's topography is dominated by the Andean Cordillera range, which divides just north of Colombia's southern border with Ecuador into three separate chains, or cordilleras, the Cordillera Occidental (western), the Cordillera Central, and the Cordillera Oriental (eastern). Between the Cordilleras there are high plateaus and fertile valleys, which are crossed by major river systems. At the edge of the Caribbean Sea is the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated group of mountains with the highest peak being Pico Cristóbal Colón (5,775 m/18,947 ft), the highest mountain in Colombia. Along the Pacific Coast, west of the Cordillera Occidental, is the low Serrania de Baudo, which extends into the Isthmus of Panama. Adding to the diversity of habitats is the Amazonia Region, which covers 35% of Colombia's total territory The diversity in topography and habitats results in wide variety of ecosystems making Colombia one of the most biologically diverse countries on earth. It is home to 15 percent of the world’s plant species. Colombia has 51,220 species of plants and nearly 30 percent are endemic. Colombia has been described as a country with privileged biodiversity. This privileged diversity also extends to the orchids. There are over 3,900 species of orchids reported in the literature for Colombia. Vast areas that previously were considered unsafe are now open for exploration. It is estimated that the number of species will climb to over 5,000. This makes the orchid flora of Colombia, the richest in the world. In Southern Colombia, a two-hour flight from Bogota, is the town of San Juan de Pasto, founded in 1537, at an altitude of 8,290 feet (2,527 m) above sea level. The city has a population of over 400,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the department of Nariño. Pasto is a beautiful, clean and well-organized city with friendly people and wonderful food. The city is located in the Atriz Valley, on the Andes cordillera, at the foot of the Galeras volcano. The only problem with Pasto is that is the volcano often exhibits a plume of smoke and every now and then rumbles and throws rocks to let its presence

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known (Fig. 1). Pasto is world famous for artwork using straw to make designs on wooden objects (Fig. 2).

Figure 1. Galeras volcano

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Figure 2. Famous Pasto Artwork The landing at the airport at Pasto is an adventure. The approach is between mountain peaks with just a few hundred feet clearance to the wing tips. The short runway is on a flat spot that begins with a sheer drop-off and ends with a tall mountain. The airport is famous for its crosswinds and is frequently closed, but most pilots love this airport. A short ride from the airport, on a twisting winding road that has spectacular views and hundreds of orchids growing on the trees overhanging the road, is the town of Pasto. Just outside of Pasto is a road that leads to a glacial lake, La Laguna De La Cocha, also called Lake Guamuez (Figs. 3-4). The lake is 27 km from Pasto at an elevation of 2800 m. It is the second largest natural lake in Colombia. It has an area of over 40 sq. km a length of 25 km and a maximum depth of 75 m. Several rivers feed la Laguna De La Cocha; the main river is the Encano River and is drained by the Guamuez and the Putumayo Rivers. On August 1, 2001, La Laguna De La Cocha was designated as a Wetland of International Importance by the Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention. This is an intergovernmental organization that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance. This lake was the first with this designation in the Andean region. The banks of the lake are settled by populations of fishermen and farmers, descendants of ancient indigenous cultures. Over thirty areas of virgin forests have been made into private nature reserves

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run by a local association to protect prime forest areas and the paramo of the Guamuez river, part of the Putumayo river system. The residents understand that they need to preserve these forests and can finance their preservation through ecotourism. The lake and surrounding wetlands are home to many mammals including South America’s only bear, the spectacled bear Tremarctos ornatus, the mountain tapir Tapirus pinchaque, the Andean wolf Lycalopex culpaeus, churuco monkey Lagothrix lagothricha lugens, deer rabbit Pudu mephistophiles, soche deer Mazama rufina, horned deer Odocoileus virginianus goudotii, mountain paca Agouti taczanowskii, and around 40 per cent of the entire South American avifauna.

Figure 3. La Laguna De La Coca

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Figure 4. Cabin on La Laguna De La Coca There are numerous short trails along the main road that lead to small preserves on the sides of the mountains. One preserve that is a short walk up from the main road is Sendero Ecologico La Mejorana (Fig. 5). In about an hour of walking 22 species of orchids were observed in flower. The larger and truly spectacular preserves are along the lake and are reached by boat. Transportation around the lake is mainly by boat (lancha) (Figs. 6-7). A call to the cell phone of one of the boat operators will bring a boat in just a few minutes.

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Figure 5. Sendero Ecologico La Mejorahna

Figure 6. Boats (lancha)

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Figure 7. Boats (lancha) near trout pens. There are numerous hotels and cabins available for lodging. By the lake, 3 km from the main road is the Chalet Guamuez, with chalets, boats and jeep trips. Another beautiful hotel is Sindamanoy (fig. 8), chalet style, government-run with good views. There are also inexpensive and friendly places to stay in and near El Encano.

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Figure 8. Sindamanoy Hotel. The views around the lake are spectacular and change from moment to moment. Light rain is very common throughout the day and clouds continuously move through area giving it an almost surreal feel. One of the most beautiful private preserves is Reserva Natural Encanto Andino (Fig. 8). It is approximately one square kilometer and has both high elevation rainforest and paramo (fig. 10). The preserve has good facilities for visitors (fig. 11). A trail winds through the preserve for approximately 2 k. It starts in rainforest goes up to paramo and back through rainforest. During a walk through the preserve thousands of orchids were observed. This is the highest density of orchids observed in any rainforest. Sixty-seven different species of orchids were observed in flower and photographed. Only about 30% of the orchid species observed were actually in flower.

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Figure 9. Reserva Natural Encanto Andino

Figure 10. Paramo.

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Figure 11. Accommodations for visitors. At the northern end of the lake is the Isla La Carota, which is a national park (fig. 12). The island is a sacred place for the Quillacinta and other indigenous people. There are actually two sanctuaries: a nature one, Santuario de Flora y Fauna Isla La Carota (fig. 13), and a shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes (fig. 14). This is the smallest of Colombia’s national parks; Santuario de Flora y Fauna Isla La Corota comprises only eight hectares. A half-kilometer footpath leads up to the island’s highest point, at 2839 meters (9312 feet). Access is restricted to the pathway. During a walk through the preserve 32 different species of orchids were observed in flower. For an orchid lover Laguna De La Cocha is a remarkable place. It is one of those places you must visit before you die so you know what orchid heaven is like.

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Figure 12. Isla La Carota

Figure 13. Santuario de Flora y Fauna Isla De La Corota

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Figure 14. Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes

Epidendrum species

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Epidendrum fimbriatum Kunth

Pleurothallis species

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Anacheillium species

pasto, colombia – orchid paradise found

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