Scenery in Conguillio National Park
Principal scenic attractions of Conguillío National Park
1. Volcano Llaima Without a doubt, offers the most majestic view of National Park Conguillio. It can be seen from the three main entances to the Park, imposing itself upon the visitor. The altitude is 30125MASL /102.53 feet, offering the adventurous good opportunities to climb and randonée.
2. There are three main lakes within National Park Conguillio. Entering the Park from the direction of Curacautín in the north-east, one comes across Captren Lagoon, the smallest of the three water bodies. It hjas an attractive walk that circumnavigates the lake passing through Nothofagus forest and wetland zones, most of the route providing beautiful views of the lake and it´s birdlife.
The second lake, approaching from Curacautín, is Lake Conguillio, the largest of the three. The water reaches a pleasant bathing temperature in summer due to the shallowness of the lake. Lake Conguillio is popular in summer with families who come for the day from the city of Temuco or camp by the lake in the concession area. There is a kiosk and options to rent kayaks. From the beach there is a beautiful view of the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain which is an eroded volcano.
Prior to arriving at the third main lagoon in the Park, the road passes by a small lagoon called Arco Iris. Laguna Verde is the third main lagoon, with a deep green-turquiose colouring to the water and surrounded by evergreen beech forest Nothofagus
In this sector of the Park one can visit remnants of refuges made by previous temporary inhabitants of the Park.
3. The combination of volcanoes, snow water and forest, form impressive and varied views from the bare lava flows surrounding the Volcano to the deep green tones of Coihue Nothofagus dombeyi, and Araucaria (Araucaria araucana). In autumn large sections of forest turn first yellow then orange then red, a beauty that is hard to capture in a photo or describe in a book.
4. The geology of Conguillio National Park is of such interest that it forms part of the Geopark Kutraculra. Basaltic and pyroclast lava flows with deposits of pomice rock, combined with the dramatic glacial excavations of the retreating ice age, have left their mark on the Park, providing the tourist with many interesting options for exploration and photo snapping.
