Lakes
Detailed spatial analysis of boundaries, regional elevation ranges, and mountain landscapes.
Nevado Tres Cruces National Park: A Comprehensive Geographic and Terrain Profile in Chile
Examine the physical geography of Nevado Tres Cruces National Park, a protected area within the Atacama Region of Chile. This profile details the mountain relief, alpine climate, and significant hydrologic features including wetlands, lakes, and high altitude streams across the 591 square kilometer boundary.

High-altitude wetland sanctuary in the Chilean Atacama
Nevado Tres Cruces National Park
Nevado Tres Cruces National Park is a protected area in the Atacama Region of northern Chile, situated east of the city of Copiapó in the southern Andes. The park encompasses a complex of high-altitude wetlands including Laguna Santa Rosa and Laguna del Negro Francisco, along with a portion of the Salar de Maricunga salt flat. At over 3,700 meters elevation in the salt flat area and reaching 4,126 meters at the Negro Francisco lagoon, the park protects some of the world's highest wetland ecosystems. The landscape is dominated by Nevado Tres Cruces, a mountain that gives the park its name and forms a dramatic backdrop to the protected lakes and marshes. The park was designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, recognizing its global significance as a habitat for migratory waterfowl and its role in preserving fragile high-altitude desert ecosystems.
- Location
- Chile
- Park type
- National park
- Area
- 591 km²
Regional placement and geographic records within the Atacama of Chile
Nevado Tres Cruces National Park Geographic Location and Regional Setting
- Countries
- Chile
- Regions
- Atacama Region
- Primary location
- Atacama Region
Interactive protected-area geometry covering 591 square kilometers
Nevado Tres Cruces National Park Boundary Map and Spatial Extent
- Boundary area
- 599 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 195.9 km
- Northernmost point
- 26.9398° S
- Southernmost point
- 27.5035° S
- Easternmost point
- 68.896° W
- Westernmost point
- 69.2816° W
- Geographic centre
- 27.1382° S, 69.0842° W
- North–south span
- 62.5 km
- East–west span
- 38.2 km
Mountain terrain relief and recorded physical features within boundaries
Nevado Tres Cruces National Park Terrain and Elevation Profile
- Minimum elevation
- 3,700 m
Selected named natural features
Peaks
Cerro Los Portezuelos
4,853 m
Streams
Quebrada El Desague
Lakes
Laguna Santa Rosa
Peaks
Cerro Santa Rosa
4,910 m
Streams
Quebrada Las Lajitas
Alpine climate zones, desert relief, and major water presence
Nevado Tres Cruces National Park Environmental Classifications And Geography
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
- Water
- Major water bodies
- Forest cover
- No forest cover
- Seasonality
- Strongly seasonal
Landscape features
Mountains · Wetland · Lakes · Volcano · Desert
Habitat types
Steppe · Wetland · Desert habitat · Alpine meadow
Trace the regional spread of protected areas, comparing similar high-altitude landscapes in Chile's Atacama Andes.
Discover Other National Parks Near Nevado Tres Cruces National Park in the Atacama Andes

Northwest
Pan de Azúcar National Park: Chile's Protected Natural Landscape and Atlas Context
Discover mapped boundaries and regional geography for this national park.
Pan de Azúcar National Park is a protected area situated within Chile's diverse geography. This page provides detailed information on its status as a national park, focusing on its mapped boundaries and its contribution to the regional landscape context. Users can explore its geographic significance and understand its place within the broader atlas of protected areas.
- Area
- 437.54 km²
- Established
- 1985
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mixed relief

South
San Guillermo National Park: High Andes Protected Landscape & Vicuña Conservation Area
Explore its rugged terrain and arid mountain ecosystem.
San Guillermo National Park, a key national park in Argentina's San Juan Province, protects over 166,000 hectares of high-altitude Andean wilderness. Its landscape is defined by arid mountain ranges and expansive puna grasslands, serving as a critical sanctuary for vicuñas and other high-Andean wildlife. This page offers detailed geographic context for understanding the park's protected boundaries, unique terrain, and its importance as a mapped conservation area.
- Area
- 1,660 km²
- Established
- 1998
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain

Southwest
Llanos de Challe National Park: Unique Coastal Desert and Lomas Ecosystem
Atacama Region National Park with Dramatic Terrain and Wildlife
Llanos de Challe National Park presents a rare protected coastal desert environment within the Atacama Region. Its unique lomas ecosystem, sustained by coastal fog, supports a surprising diversity of life. The park encompasses striking geographic features, from unspoiled white-sand beaches to rugged mountainous terrain, offering a clear example of a vital protected landscape with significant guanaco populations and unique flora, all mapped within its regional context.
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mixed relief
- Climate
- Arid
- Scope
- Mixed

North
Llullaillaco National Park: Mapped Volcanic Terrain and Protected Andean Landscape
Explore the high-altitude desert ecosystem and national park boundaries.
Llullaillaco National Park is a significant protected area in the Antofagasta Region, characterized by its striking volcanic landscape and high-altitude desert environment. The park's geography includes the towering Llullaillaco volcano, ancient ravines, and expansive semi-desert plains, forming a unique segment of the Central Andean dry puna ecoregion. Discover the mapped terrain and protected area context of this remarkable Chilean national park, offering insights into its arid-adapted biodiversity and geological significance.
- Area
- 2,687 km²
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Arid

South
Talampaya National Park: Argentinian National Park with Dramatic Desert Canyons
Explore protected landscape and mapped geography in La Rioja Province.
Talampaya National Park, a significant national park in Argentina's La Rioja Province, offers a profound exploration of a dramatic desert canyon environment. This protected area is renowned for its rich paleontological sites, yielding crucial dinosaur fossils, and for its well-preserved indigenous petroglyphs carved into ancient rock formations. Understanding Talampaya National Park provides vital context for the region's geography and its place within Argentinian protected lands and mapped natural landscapes.
- Area
- 2,150 km²
- Established
- 1997
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain

East
Aconquija National Park: Southern Andean Yungas Protected Landscape in Tucumán Province
Explore its montane forest and mapped geographic context.
Aconquija National Park is a significant federal protected area located in Tucumán Province, Argentina. This national park is dedicated to conserving the diverse Southern Andean Yungas montane forest ecosystem, characterized by a dramatic elevational gradient. Its landscapes transition from cloud forest to high alpine terrain, offering a unique opportunity to study and appreciate a well-preserved montane environment within a critical geographic region. Discover the mapped extent and ecological importance of this protected area.
- Area
- 700 km²
- Established
- 1995
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain

South
Ischigualasto Provincial Park
Geological mapping of wind-eroded badlands in San Juan Province
Ischigualasto Provincial Park, in San Juan Province, Argentina. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and cliffs.
- Area
- 603.7 km²
- Established
- 1971
- Relief
- Upland
- Climate
- Arid

Northeast
Los Cardones National Park: National Park Protected Landscape in Salta Province
Explore the mapped geography and protected area boundaries.
Los Cardones National Park represents a distinct protected landscape within Salta Province, Argentina. This page provides an atlas-driven view of its status as a national park, focusing on its geographic setting and mapped boundaries. It is designed for users seeking structured information about the park's protected-area identity and its regional landscape context, offering a foundation for broader geographic exploration.
- Area
- 650 km²
- Established
- 1996
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mixed relief
Continue Exploring Nevado Tres Cruces National Park's Mapped Terrain and Protected Boundaries
Deepen your understanding of Nevado Tres Cruces National Park by exploring its specific geographic features and its status as a protected national park. Uncover the mapped landscape context and the regional significance of this natural area, providing a structured foundation for further atlas-based discovery. Investigate the park's unique terrain and its role within the broader geography of the Atacama Region.