El
Voladero
and
Potrerillos
There
is
a
route
leading
to
the
lakes
of
El
Voldadero
from
the
car
park
situated
at
the
edge
of
the
old
El
Angel-Tulcan
road.
The
path
is
1200
metres
long,
around
500
metres
of
which
partially
borders
the
lakes.
The
frailejones
reach
their
peak
in
a
glacial
valley
consisting
of
several
bodies
of
water
located
at
an
altitude
of
3700
metres
.
In
the
past
this
area
comprised
only
one
lake,
but
with
the
passage
of
time,
vegetation
gained
ground,
overtaking
and
dividing
the
larger
lake
into
three
smaller
ones.
Aside
from
the
presence
of
the
frailejones
forest,
this
terrain
is
extremely
rich
in
wildlife
housing
species
such
as
the
Andean
seagull,
turtledoves,
American
kestrels,
wild
rabbits,
paramo
wolves
and
deer.
Towards
the
north
of
El
Voldadero
another
path
leads
to
Lake
Potrerillos
,
which
takes
around
two
hours
by
foot.
Hidden
amongst
the
frailejones
and
undergrowth,
the
Mirador
de
Socabones
serves
as
the
best
lookout
point
to
view
the
entire
lower
region
of
the
Reserve.
The
Cerro
Chiltazon
is
an
area
surrounded
by
frailejon
forests.
Flora
and
fauna
native
to
the
region
can
also
be
found
here.
Canon
del
Colorado,
a
section
of
paramo
containing
forests,
is
so
called
due
to
the
abundance
of
polylepis
trees
and
the
reddish
colour
of
their
bark.
In
the
Quebrada
de
Banos
the
hot
springs
,
which
are
considered
beneficial
to
health,
particularly
to
relieve
the
symptoms
of
arthritis,
are
frequented
by
visitors.
In
Palacios,
just
before
Socabones,
exists
the
Chorrera
or
stream
forming
the
River
Moran.
The
Crespo
Lakes
are
the
two
most
important
lakes
within
the
Reserve.
Lagunas
Verdes
(Green
Lakes)
Situated
towards
the
north
of
the
Reserve,
on
the
outskirts
of
Volcano
Chiles,
are
a
set
of
lakes
known
as
the
Lagunas
Verdes
or
‘
Green
Lakes
’.
The
lakes
are
rich
in
chlorophyll
algae
and
have
high
sulphur
content.
The
lakes
are
a
popular
tourist
attraction
due
to
the
belief
that
their
waters
have
healing
properties.
Laguna
Razococha
(Lake
Razococha)
Lake
Razococha
,
which
is
located
towards
the
north-east
of
the
Reserve,
is
famed
for
a
species
of
trout
that
inhabits
its
waters,
reaching
up
to
a
metre
in
length.
What
is
remaining
of
the
natural
forest
that
surrounds
the
lake
serves
as
a
refuge
for
many
species
of
bird
and
deer.
It’s
also
not
unusual
to
see
condors
in
full
flight
over
the
area.
La
Calera
Located
very
close
to
the
town
of
El
Angel
are
the
natural
pools
of
La
Calera.
These
natural
hot
springs
,
a
popular
tourist
attraction,
are
surrounded
by
natural
forests
which
even
house
vestiges
of
Petrified
Forest
.
Puente
Ayora
(Ayora
Bridge)
At
the
mouth
of
the
River
El
Angel,
by
the
old
Ayora
Bridge
,
streams
flow
consisting
of
a
combination
of
water
and
natural
gas,
which
are
known
for
their
general
healing
properties
and,
in
particular,
for
their
potential
benefits
for
those
who
suffer
from
kidney
problems.
Piedras
Puntas
Piedras
Puntas,
so
called
because
of
its
erratic
topography,
is
situated
outside
of
the
Reserve’s
borders,
facing
the
Socabones
viewpoint.
This
is
also
a
place
of
great
importance
due
to
the
fact
that
condors
and
carunculated
caracaras
build
nests
and
lay
their
eggs
here.
Mira
This
community
has
a
very
odd
attraction:
this
village
accommodates
the
only
remaining
craftswomen
who
make
blankets
and
ponchos
using
vertical
looms,
known
in
the
area
as
guangua
or
‘women?s
looms’.
This
is
an
extremely
time-consuming
activity,
which
has
become
less
and
less
popular
due
to
the
fact
that
the
more
recent
generations
have
preferred
to
dedicate
their
time
to
knitting
woollen
pullovers
–
a
more
worthwhile
activity,
with
regards
to
time
and
money,
than
knitting
ponchos.
