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Sierra Nevada National Park is a national park in Venezuela located in eastern Mérida and small portion of western Barinas, and the biggest and most important of the seven parks protecting the ecology and scenery of the venezuelan Andes. Sierra Nevada National Park is a national park in Venezuela located in eastern Mérida and small portion of western Barinas, and the biggest and most important of the seven parks protecting the ecology and scenery of the venezuelan Andes.



Creation
The national park is the second oldest in the country (after Henri Pittier National Park) and was created on May 2, 1952 by executive power decree covering an area of 469,500 acres (1,900 km²) which was then expanded on August 14, 1985 to its current area of 683,100 acres (2,764 km²). 67,2% of the park in Mérida and 32.8% in Barinas.

Geography
Sierra Nevada National Park protects the Sierra Nevada de Mérida one of the two branches of the Cordillera de Mérida in the Venezuelan Andes (the other branch being protected by the Sierra de la Culata National Park), which includes Venezuela's highest elevation, Pico Bolívar 4,981 m. and the second highest Pico Humboldt 4,940 m, being the only mountain range in Venezuela where glaciers remain, although the few left have been receding fast in the last decades.

Biology
Due to the park's abrupt altitude changes Sierra Nevada National Park is one of the most biologically diverse national parks in the country. Several life zones are present in the park with many endemic species. Most of the park is covered by tropical montane rainforests but also includes portions of Deserts and xeric shrublands in the lower parts and páramo highlands in the highest parts.

Vegetation


The area has various types of forests and Andean páramos as well as a elevated endemism level based on elevation:


 * At lower altitudes we find species such as the laurel, the majagua, cedro de montaña and the anime.
 * The forests boast an abundance of orchids, bryophytes and pteridophytes. Some endemisms include: the pino aparrado, the manteco negro, the frailejonote, the coloradito and the cafecito species. Abundant arborescent pteridophytes, epiphytes and orchids, cordoncillo, yagrumo, sai-sai and the pino laso.
 * On the páramo, the frailejones are the most representative species along with the chispeador and the coloradito.

Fauna


Bioclimatic diversity and a variety of vegetation have given rise to an extensive variety of habitats that provide refuge and food for a large number of faunistic species. Some are these are at danger of extinction such as the oso frontino, the only South American representative of the ursid family, the venado caramerudo del páramo, the paují copete de piedra, the gallito de la sierra, the puma, el conejo de páramo and the jaguar. The andean condor became extinct in the park but since the 1990's a reintroduction program

Human Presence
Within the limits of Sierra Nevada National Park small areas of human population exist, preserving a rich socio-cultural heritage. By 1999 the human population in the park was 8,738 most of them living in the special zones where agriculture and tourism activities are allowed to some extent. The most important towns within the park are El Morro and Los Nevados, which still preserve strong traditional colonial culture, as seen in its architecture, religion and customs.

Geology
Within the limits of Sierra Nevada National Park small areas of human population exist, preserving a rich socio-cultural heritage. By 1999 the human population in the park was 8,738 most of them living in the special zones where agriculture and tourism activities are allowed to some extent. The most important towns within the park are El Morro and Los Nevados, which still preserve traditional colonial architecture.

Tourism


Within the limits of Sierra Nevada National Park small areas of human population exist, preserving a rich socio-cultural heritage. By 1999 the human population in the park was 8,738 most of them living in the special zones where agriculture and tourism activities are allowed to some extent. The most important towns within the park are El Morro and Los Nevados, which still preserve traditional colonial architecture.
 * Within the limits of Sierra Nevada National Park small areas of human population exist, preserving a rich socio-cultural heritage.
 * Within the limits of Sierra Nevada National Park small areas of human population exist, preserving a rich socio-cultural heritage.
 * Within the limits of Sierra Nevada National Park small areas of human population exist, preserving a rich socio-cultural heritage.