Park geography

A comprehensive geographic analysis of administrative provinces and protected natural terrain

Sangay National Park Geography: Mapped Boundaries, Terrain, and Regional Administrative Context

Explore the geographic framework of Sangay National Park, covering its 5012.23 square kilometer extent across the Ecuadorian provinces of Azuay, Chimborazo, Morona-Santiago, Cañar, and Tungurahua. This profile details the park boundary, mapping prominent natural features such as the Sangay volcano, Yanaurco peak, and numerous river systems.

View park overview

Illustration of a snow-capped mountain with green forests and valleys under a pastel sky

Volcanic wilderness spanning from tropical rainforests to Andean glaciers

Sangay National Park

Sangay National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in central-southern Ecuador, spanning five provinces: Morona-Santiago, Chimborazo, Tungurahua, Cañar, and Azuay. The park encompasses an extraordinary range of elevations from 900 to 5,319 meters above sea level, protecting one of the most geographically and ecologically diverse landscapes in the Andes. At its heart lie two active volcanoes, Tungurahua and Sangay, alongside the extinct volcanic massif of El Altar. The protected area harbors an extensive wetland system fed by 327 lakes, covering 31.5 square kilometers, as well as the largest páramo ecosystems in Ecuador. Established in 1979 and designated a World Heritage Site in 1983, Sangay represents a critical stronghold for Andean biodiversity and remains one of the most significant protected areas in South America.

Location: Ecuador
Park type: National park
Established: 1979
Area: 5,177.7 km²

Sangay National Park Protected Area

Location overview

Administrative placement across five provinces in the heart of Ecuador

Geographic Location and Regional Boundaries of Sangay National Park

Sangay National Park lies in Ecuador, spanning Azuay, Chimborazo, Morona-Santiago, Cañar, and Tungurahua provinces. Map records clarify the administrative placement and regional boundaries of the protected area.

Countries: Ecuador
Regions: Azuay Province, Cañar Province, Chimborazo Province, Morona-Santiago Province, Tungurahua Province
Primary location: Ecuador

Boundary and coordinates

Interactive boundary geometry and derived spatial measurements

Sangay National Park Boundary Map and Spatial Extent

Mapped park geometry provides spatial context for the protected area and its surrounding terrain. Accompanying measurements detail total area coverage, geographic center coordinates, and latitudinal spans.

Boundary area: 5,012.2 km²
Boundary perimeter: 607.5 km
Northernmost point: 1.445° S
Southernmost point: 2.6569° S
Easternmost point: 78.0613° W
Westernmost point: 78.9543° W
Geographic centre: 2.1123° S, 78.3968° W
North–south span: 134 km
East–west span: 99.3 km

Parque Nacional Sangay

Terrain and natural features

Catalog of recorded peaks, lakes, and rivers within protected boundaries

Sangay National Park Terrain and Named Natural Features

Recorded named natural features include glacial formations, lakes, rivers, and mountain peaks positioned within the protected terrain. Individual feature cards outline specific feature names, categories, and spatial relationships.

Selected named natural features

Lakes

Laguna Yaguarcocha

Streams

Chintanlo

Glaciers

El Altar

Peaks

Cerro Condorazo

4,355 m

Rivers

Río Cardenillo

Rivers

Río Singuiantza

Sangay National Park Natural Features

Environmental setting

Interpreting landscape, relief, and climate categories across the protected terrain

Sangay National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting

Recorded physical classifications provide broad interpretive categories for reading the environmental setting of Sangay National Park. Structured property records connect these primary categories directly to relevant regional atlas destinations.

Park atlas

Explore the geographic context and connected protected landscapes across the Andes beyond Sangay National Park.

Compare Related Protected Areas and National Parks Near Sangay National Park

Browse a curated selection of national parks and other protected areas geographically connected to Sangay National Park, tracing Ecuador's diverse Andean ecosystems. Compare these vital conservation landscapes to understand regional protected area spread, volcanic terrain features, and high-altitude páramo habitats.

National parkEcuador

0.4 km away#1 closest

South

Parque nacional Río Negro-Sopladora: Andean Protected Area and Highland Connectivity Atlas

Mapping forest-to-páramo transitions in the Eastern Cordillera

Parque nacional Río Negro-Sopladora encompasses a vast, undisturbed stretch of the southern Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. This protected landscape is defined by its dramatic vertical relief, which funnels water into the Río Negro and Sopladora basins while supporting a diverse array of endemic plants and high-altitude species. Gain insight into its role as a key geographic link in the Cóndor Kutukú-Palanda connectivity network through this structured park map.

Area: 306.163 km²
Established: 2018
IUCN: II
Relief: Mountain

Parque nacional Río Negro-Sopladora Park Geography

A digital illustration of a mountain stream cascading down a rocky slope through grassy, hilly terrain, set against a backdrop of distant peaks under a soft sky.

National parkEcuador

6.8 km away#2 closest

North

Llanganates National Park: Detailed Atlas Entry for Ecuador's Protected Landscape

Explore the mapped geography and regional context of this Ecuadorian national park.

Llanganates National Park is a designated national park offering rich opportunities for geographic and landscape exploration. As a significant protected area in Ecuador, it provides crucial context for understanding the country's natural terrain and the distribution of its conservation landscapes. This entry is designed to facilitate an atlas-style discovery of the park's location, boundaries, and its role within the broader geography of the region.

Area: 2,197.07 km²
Established: 1996
IUCN: II
Relief: Mountain

Llanganates National Park Protected Landscape

A soft watercolor painting of a hilly, grassy landscape with distant mountains in muted greens and pinks.

Wildlife reserveChimborazo

26 km away#3 closest

Northwest

Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo: Volcanic Landscapes and Andean Wildlife Reserve

High-altitude watershed and páramo geography in central Ecuador.

Spanning from glacial summits to arid puna plains, the Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo represents a complex Andean ecosystem. This wildlife reserve protects vital watersheds, glacial meltwater sources, and native camelid habitats within the shadows of Ecuador's tallest peaks, offering a detailed look at high-altitude conservation and volcanic terrain.

Area: 526.83 km²
Established: 1987
IUCN: IV
Relief: Mountain

Explore Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo Protected Geography

Watercolor painting of a mountain landscape with a lake, rolling hills, and coniferous trees in soft green and yellow tones.

National parkAzuay

44 km away#4 closest

Southwest

Cajas National Park

Geographic analysis of high-elevation protected lands

Cajas National Park, in Ecuador. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and forests.

Area: 293.89 km²
Established: 1977
IUCN: II
Visitors: 53K annual

Explore Parque nacional Cajas Protected Area

A pale, soft watercolor painting showing a stylized, rolling landscape with light green, pink, and yellow hues representing hills and trees.

Nature reserveGuayas Province

67 km away#5 closest

Southwest

Reserva ecológica Manglares Churute: Mapping a Coastal Nature Reserve in Guayas Province

An ecological mosaic of mangrove forests, estuaries, and forested ridges.

Spanning from the inner Gulf of Guayaquil into the Churute hill range, Reserva ecológica Manglares Churute acts as an essential protected area within Ecuador. The region contains one of the country's most significant mangrove complexes, complemented by freshwater lagoons and unique fog-affected forest summits that support diverse wildlife populations and endemic vegetation.

Area: 471.74 km²
Established: 1979
IUCN: Ia
Relief: Mixed relief

Reserva ecológica Manglares Churute Nature Reserve

A wide watercolor illustration showing a misty landscape with green trees in the midground and faint mountain peaks in the background.

Nature reserveEcuador

71 km away#6 closest

Northwest

Reserva Ecológica Los Illinizas: Geographic Atlas and Andean Protected Nature Reserve

Volcanic terrain and cloud forest ecosystems in central Ecuador

Spanning across the provinces of Cotopaxi, Pichincha, and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Reserva Ecológica Los Illinizas preserves a significant vertical gradient of Andean ecosystems. The reserve protects the western flanks of the Illiniza volcanoes, Quilotoa, and El Corazón, offering a detailed look at high-altitude biodiversity and the transition from rugged mountain peaks to lush western cloud forests.

Area: 1,342.33 km²
Established: 1996
IUCN: Ia
Relief: Mountain

Reserva Ecológica Los Illinizas Park Geography

A stylized digital illustration of a green mountain range under a pale pink and peach sky, with foreground silhouettes of shrubs and trees framing the view.

National parkCotopaxi Province

77 km away#7 closest

North

Cotopaxi National Park: Ecuador's Mapped Protected Landscape and Regional Geography

Explore the geographic context of this national park.

Cotopaxi National Park represents a key protected landscape within Ecuador, located in Cotopaxi Province. This page facilitates detailed exploration of the park's mapped boundaries and its contribution to the regional geography. Understand the specific characteristics of this national park as part of a broader atlas of protected areas and natural terrains.

Area: 333.93 km²
Established: 1975
IUCN: II
Relief: Mountain

Cotopaxi National Park Geography

Biosphere reserveNapo

About 78 km away#8 closest

North

Reserva Biológica Colonso-Chalupas: Protected Landscapes of the Upper Napo Basin

A critical vertical corridor of the Ecuadorian Andes and Amazon.

Reserva Biológica Colonso-Chalupas represents a unique bioclimatic transition, stretching nearly 4,000 meters in elevation. This biosphere reserve serves as a functional corridor connecting high-altitude páramo and cloud forests to warm, humid Amazonian lowlands, forming a key structural element of the eastern Andean conservation landscape.

Area: 931.63 km²
Established: 2014
Relief: Mountain
Climate: Alpine

Reserva Biológica Colonso-Chalupas Protected Area

MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring Sangay National Park's Geographic and Landscape Context

Delve deeper into the mapped terrain and protected landscape features of Sangay National Park. Understanding its precise boundaries and regional geography offers invaluable insights for anyone studying national parks, conservation areas, or South American geography. Expand your atlas exploration by examining the specific geographic characteristics that make Sangay National Park a distinct element of Ecuador's natural heritage.

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