MOUNTAINS ABOVE COCHABAMBA, BOLIVIA
These pictures were taken in Parque Nacional Tunari, just north of Cochabamba. There is a mixture of natural habitat and planted timber (eucalpytus and pines). The elevation range in these pictures was from about 9500 feet to 13000 feet. For pictures in Cochabamba, go here (Part I) and here (Part II).

First, a picture of the mountain range explored (viewed from the Cristo de la Concordia)...



We will basically go from low to high. The next few pictures are from around 9500-10000 feet above sea level. Here is some native vegetation...such as this acacia...



Here is some type of Albizia...



Two common garden plants that are native, the hop seed shrub (Dodonaea viscosa) and, behind that, the "California" pepper tree (Schinus molle)...



A couple of trunked cacti (the first one is quite large)...





An interesting mystery tree with an almost glossy trunk and sort of Euphorbia-like leaves...





Going up to about 11000 feet, here are some native Puya plants...





There was a fire in this area, so some of the Puya are burnt, but still alive...



Higher up (around 12,500 feet) was this different Puya (poised to bloom soon!)...



There were a lot of Polylepis trees (known in Spanish as queñua) with its very small leaves and red flaky bark. Another member of the Polylepis genus can grow at elevations over 16,000 feet. The ones below were generally between 11,000 and 13,000 feet...









A very small cactus (probably an Echinopsis) with a red bloom (around 11,000 feet)...



There were a lot of very non-nativeEucalpytus that were planted on this mountain, including these blue gums...



A large lupine growing around 12,000 feet...



A mystery wildflower nearby...



A few views from intermediate levels...this one is towards Cerro Tunari which is 16,000 feet above sea level (when thunderstorms were developing--though they didn't last long)...



A less stormy (though somewhat hazy) view towards Cerro Tunari later on...



A view up towards the ridge...



Native Fuchsia around 13,000 feet in bloom...



A series of man-made waterfalls along a small stream...



Some native alders (Alnus acuminata) nearby...



Looking uphill from this point...



And, finally, looking down at Cochabamba (and the surrounding valley) from just above the waterfalls...





All of the above pictures on this page were taken in December 2012 by Brandt Maxwell.

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