La Guajira Desert

Friday, October 12, 2012

La Guajira Desert

La Guajira Desert (El Desierto de la Guajira) is a desert located in the northernmost part of Colombia, 610 km (380 mi) north of Bogota, in the La Guajira Department, covering most of La Guajira Peninsula including Venezuelan territory. The area holds immense coal reserves, exploited in a zone known as El Cerrejon.
The area is also home to the indigenous Wayuu people and a variety of desert flora and fauna. In La Guajira Desert is located The National Natural Park of Macuira (El Parque Nacional Natural Macuira) which is a a tropical oasis. The park covers 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres) in La Guiajira’s only mountain chain, and ranges in altitude from 0 to 450 metres (1,480 ft).