High-altitude peat wetlands fed by snowmelt, supporting vicuña, flamingos, and unique plants. Mining threatens the aquifers that sustain these oases above 4,000 meters.
mtchm from -, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An ecosystem built on a sponge
In the arid Altiplano of Lauca National Park, between 3,200 and 5,000 meters, bright green wetlands stand out against the dry puna grasslands. These are bofedales, a type of high-altitude peat bog that is a giant natural sponge. They form in flat depressions where groundwater, fed by snowmelt from volcanoes like Parinacota and Pomerape, discharges to the surface. This constant water saturation, combined with the cold, low-oxygen environment, slows decomposition to a crawl.
The foundation of the bofedal is a dense cushion of specialized plants, primarily from the Juncaceae family. Species like Distichia muscoides and Oxychloe andina grow into tight, interconnected mats that can look like a bright green lawn. As old plant matter accumulates, it forms thick layers of peat, a carbon-rich organic soil. This peat is remarkably absorbent, capable of holding up to ten times its own dry weight in water, which it releases slowly throughout the year. This process regulates water flow to downstream areas and sustains the local ecosystem through the dry season.
High-altitude life support
The bofedales are oases of food and water, supporting a surprising density of wildlife. They are the primary grazing grounds for vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna), wild camelids whose fleece is one of the finest natural fibers in the world. These animals are highly adapted to the low-oxygen conditions of the Altiplano. Lauca also has over 140 species of birds, many of which depend on the wetlands. The giant coot (Fulica gigantea) builds enormous nests in the shallow water, while Andean geese (Chloephaga melanoptera) graze on the vegetation.
Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) are a common sight, feeding in the saline lagoons often associated with the bofedales. After a 33-year absence, these flamingos were recorded nesting again in the park in early 2026, a sign of the ecosystem's health. This delicate balance is under threat. Large-scale mining operations for minerals like copper and lithium require immense quantities of water, often pumped from the same underground aquifers that sustain the bofedales. Lowering the water table can irreversibly dry out the peat, causing the collapse of these unique high-altitude ecosystems.
💡Fun Facts
The wool of the vicuña is so fine that during the Inca empire, only royalty was permitted to wear garments made from it.
Bofedales are carbon sinks, storing large amounts of carbon in their deep peat soils and helping to regulate the climate.
Some of the cushion plants that form the bofedales, like *Laretia compacta*, can grow up to two meters in diameter and live for hundreds of years.
The Chilean flamingo stands between 110 and 130 cm tall and can live for up to 50 years in the wild.
The park does not have set opening or closing hours for entry.
Admission
Free
Accessibility
The park is at a very high altitude (over 4,000 meters), so acclimatization is necessary. Roads can be unpaved. The terrain is natural and not wheelchair accessible.
