- Address: Colonia, Uruguay
- Phone: +598 4522 1510
- Official website: parqueanchorena.gub.uy
- Visiting days: Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Excursions: 14:00 to 15:30
In Uruguay is located a unique in its beauty, historical and cultural value of the place - park-reserve Anchorena. This huge protected area is located in the department of Colonia in the south-west of the country, about 200 km from Montevideo . Great popularity of the park Anchorena brought lush vegetation, rare and exotic species of animals, as well as the residence of the head of state, where he rests the president and other high-ranking personalities. Recently, various receptions and meetings have been held here.
History of the park
Anchorena is the territory that bequeathed to the government of Uruguay, a member of the Directorate of National Parks, Aaron Felix Martin de Anchorena. The appearance of the park-preserve dates back to 1907. Then the traveler, flying in a balloon with his friend Jorge Newbery over the Rio de la Plata, was struck by the beauty of the landscapes and decided to purchase land here. Since the plots were not for sale, he purchased 11,000 hectares in the Rio-San Juan River mouth area.
In order to preserve and increase natural resources, improve the well-being of the population and attract tourists, Aaron de-Anchorena founded a park. The aristocrat brought here some species of plants and animals from Europe, Asia and India. For a long time he lived in his house of La Barra in the park and died here on February 24, 1965. The bulk of the park lands was inherited by the nephew of Anchorena, Luis Ortiz Basuccdo, and 1370 hectares in 1968 were handed over to the state by testament.
Unique protected area
An outstanding landscape designer from Germany - Herman Bötrich - worked on the creation of the park-reserve of Anchorena. Under his leadership was built the first house Anchorena, preserved in the original to our days. This is a typical country house with a zinc roof and windows in a row. Now it is the president's residence. In the park there is a dovecote, a small chapel and a nursery where monkeys used to live. Also, many items brought here by Ankhorena from foreign travel have survived.
On the territory of the park tourists can visit the stone tower, built in 1527 in honor of the Italian navigator Sebastian Cabot, who visited Anchorena during his travels. From the tower, whose height reaches 75 m, it offers a breathtaking view of the surroundings of the park and the coast of Argentina . During the construction of this fortress, the remains of Spanish settlements were discovered. Most of the items have survived to this day and are in the museum, which is located inside this fortress.
Flora and fauna
Currently, more than 200 species of various shrubs and trees grow in the park of Anchorena, many of which were brought here from different continents. Here you can see such atypical for South America trees as Japanese maple, oak, pine, cypress, Creole sauce, white poplar and over 50 varieties of eucalyptus. Thanks to such a variety of vegetation, the park of Anchorena is similar to a botanical garden, inhabited by a huge number of animals and birds (more than 80 species). A vivid representative of the fauna is spotted deer, imported from India. There are also kangaroos, buffaloes, wild boars and other animals.
How to get to the reserve?
In the park of Anchorena, it is easiest to get from the city of Colonia del Sacramento , which is located about 30 km from the landmark . The fastest route runs along Route 21, the journey time is about half an hour. From Montevideo to the park is the fastest way to get there by car on the route number 1. The journey takes about 3 hours. If you go on a trip, choosing route number 11, spend about 3.5 hours.