A
network
of
more
than
324
lakes,
three
volcanoes
–
Volcano
Sangay,
Tungurahua
and
Altar
–
and
an
abundance
of
pristine
high
and
low
montane
forest
inhabited
by
tapirs,
make
this
National
Park
one
of
the
most
important
zones
in
the
country
and
possibly
even
the
world.
Research
recently
carried
out
in
the
area
has
confirmed
the
zone’s
exceptional
ecology
and
high
diversity
of
species
in
the
northern
sectors,
and
high
levels
of
endemic
species
in
the
south.
In
1983
the
Park
was
awarded
status
as
World
Natural
Heritage
Site
by
UNESCO.
For
administrative
purposes
and
due
to
its
large
size,
the
area
has
been
divided
into
two
zones
–
the
upper
part,
which
encompasses
the
beautiful
snow-capped
volcanoes,
Andean
valleys,
rivers,
paramos
and
montane
forest,
and
the
lower
part
which
presents
a
diverse
range
of
species
and
is
slowly
converting
itself
into
tropical
rainforest
thanks
to
its
lower
altitude
range.
Nevertheless,
the
construction
of
a
bypass
crossing
the
Park,
along
with
a
growing
number
of
people
inhabiting
the
area,
particularly
towards
the
south,
provoked
UNESCO
to
declare
the
Park
as
an
endangered
area
in
1993.
Last
Updated
19th
July
2006
