The purpose of government to reserve the natural land normally is for environmental protection & recreation. There are quite a number of National Parks found in South America. This list covers 62 of them & some are already popular.

Madidi is a national park in the upper Amazon river basin in Bolivia. Established in 1995, it has an area of 18,958 square kilometres, and along with nearby protected (though not necessarily contiguous) areas Manuripi-Heath, Apolobamba, and (across the border in Peru) the Manu Biosphere Reserve. Madidi is part of one of the largest protected areas in the world. Adjacent to the west, with the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park in Peru, on the east by the TCO (Tierra Comunitaria de Origen / Indigenous community land) Tacana I, on the north by TCO Tacana II and south adjacent to the Integrated Management Natural Area National Apolobamba, TCO Lecos Apolo, TCO Lecos Larecaja and Biosphere Reserve and Indigenous Territory Pilón Lajas. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is a national park in northeast Santa Cruz Department, Province of José Miguel de Velasco, Bolivia, on the border with Brazil. Founded on June 28, 1979, the park was originally named "Parque Nacional Huanchaca." Less than a decade later, in 1988, the park was renamed "Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado" in honor of the late pioneering biologist and Bolivian conservationist Prof. Noel Kempff Mercado, both for his research and discoveries in the Park and in memory of his tragic death in the area; Mercado was murdered in the park by drug traffickers when he inadvertently stumbled across a secret cocaine laboratory high on the Huanchaca plateau. Noel Kempff Mercado National Park occupies 15,234 km² (5,880 mi²) in the northeastern corner of the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Aparados da Serra National Park (Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra) is located in the Serra Geral range of Rio Grande do Sul state in the south of Brazil. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Chapada das Mesas National Park is a national park of Brazil. It falls within the municipal areas of Carolina, Riachão e Estreito. It was created to preserve the cerrado vegetation of the region and it is mostly visited for its waterfalls. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Chapada Diamantina National Park (Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina in Portuguese) is a 1,520 km² national park in the Chapada Diamantina region of Bahia state in the Northeast of Brazil. The park is located between approximately 400 kilometres inland from Salvador, the capital city of Bahia. Chapada is a Brazilian word that means a region of steep cliffs, usually at the edge of a plateau. Diamantina refers to the diamonds found there in the mid-19th century. The region is semi-arid, however it has no shortage of water, from the many rivers and streams. On average, the altitude of the park is between 800 and 1000 metres above sea level, although parts are as high as 2000 metres above. In this place is located the highest point of state in Pico do Barbado with 2,036 meters. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Chapada dos Guimarães National Park (Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães in Portuguese) is a national park in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Chapada is a Brazilian word that means a region of steep cliffs, usually at the edge of a plateau. The Chapada dos Guimarães edge is visible in this satellite photo (Google). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Brazil's Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is located in the Chapada dos Veadeiros, an ancient plateau with an estimated age of 1.8 billion years. Based in the Brazilian state of Goias, the Park was created on January 11, 1961 by President Juscelino Kubitscheck, and listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2001. It occupies an area of 655 square kilometres and is maintained by IBAMA. The average yearly temperature is 24-26 degrees Celsius, ranging from a minimum of 4-8 degrees Celsius and reaching a maximum of 40-42 degrees Celsius. With altitudes between 600 and 1650 meters, it is the highest plain in Central Brazil. The highest point of the park and of the state of Goiás is Serra da Santana, at 1691 meters above sea level. Its rock formations are one of the oldest on the planet. There are quartz with outcrops of crystals. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, around 354 km (220 miles) offshore from the Brazilian coast. The main island has an area of 18.4 square kilometres (7.1 sq mi) and had a population of 3,108 in the year 2009. The area is a special municipality (distrito estadual) of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco (despite being closer to the state of Rio Grande do Norte) and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its timezone is UTC−2h. The local population and travellers can get to Noronha by plane or cruise from Recife (545 km) or by plane from Natal (360 km). A small environmental preservation fee is charged from tourists upon arrival by Ibama (Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources). The life above and below sea is the main attraction of the island. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Created by federal decree nr. 1035 of January 10, 1939, the Park comprises a total area of 185,262.5 hectares and a length of about 420km, 300km of which are natural borders by bodies of water and the Brazilian and Argentinean sides together comprise around 225 thousand hectares. On November 17, 1986, during the UNESCO conference held in Paris, the Iguaçú National Park was listed as Natural Heritage of Humanity and is one of the largest forest preservation areas in South America. The Iguaçú National Park owes its name to the fact it includes an important area of the Iguaçú river, approximately 50km of the length of the river and the world famous Iguaçú Falls. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The park is part of the Mantiqueira mountain range, and home to Brazil's third highest mountain, Pico das Agulhas Negras, which stands at 2,878 meters. This peak is visible to the northwest of Resende when driving between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on the Via Dutra highway, which is the easiest route to get there. The park is divided in two areas: high and low. The high area is accessible through an entrance about 35 km from the main entrance and gives access to the Pico das Agulhas Negras and Prateleiras complex. Josef Mengele lived in this area after World War II. The low area of the park is much closer to the city of Itatiaia and has many waterfalls, such as Véu da Noiva with 45 meters. The low area has also a Natural History museum. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The word Jericoacoara comes from Tupi (an indigenous language) and means "house of turtles." It is a city of Ceará, a state renowned for its natural beauty, wildlife and many landscapes. Jericoacoara is a location with favorable conditions for windsurfing and sandboarding. Jericoacoara is an environmental protection area since 1984, and National Park since 2002 to protect and preserve the natural beauty. A fact of some historical significance is the report of Vicente Yanes Pizone (Captain of Nau Nina, the fleet of Christopher Columbus), which anchored in the bay of Jericoacoara in 1499. But this was not official at the time as a result of the Treaty of Tordesillas, which was signed in the same year. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses) is located in Maranhão state, in northeastern Brazil. It is an area of low, flat, occasionally flooded land, overlaid with large, discrete sand dunes. It encompasses roughly 1000 square kilometers, and despite abundant rain, supports almost no vegetation. The park was created on June 2, 1981. It was featured in the Brazilian film The House of Sand. Most recently, it was featured in the song "Kadhal Anukkal" from the Indian film, Enthiran. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Mount Roraima (also known as Roraima Tepui or Cerro Roraima in Spanish, and Monte Roraima in Portuguese), is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateau in South America.:156 First described by the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596, its 31 km2 summit area:156 is defended by 400-metre-tall cliffs on all sides. The mountain includes the triple border point of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.:156 Mount Roraima lies on the Guiana Shield in the southeastern corner of Venezuela's 30000 km2 Canaima National Park forming the highest peak of Guyana's Highland Range. The tabletop mountains of the park are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back to some two billion years ago in the Precambrian Era. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

San Joaquim National Park is a national park of Brazil. It was originally set aside to preserve exceptional remnant forests of Parana pine, Araucaria angustifolia, but is now also popular for alpinism. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Serra da Canastra National Park (Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra) is located in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Serra da Capivara National Park is a national park in the north east of Brazil. It has many prehistoric paintings. The park was created to protect the prehistoric artifacts and paintings found there. It became a World Heritage Site in 1991. Its head archaeologist is Niède Guidon. Its best known archaeological site is Pedra Furada. It is located in southeast state of Piauí, between latitudes 8° 26' 50" and 8° 54' 23" south and longitudes 42° 19' 47" and 42° 45' 51" west. It falls within the municipal areas of São Raimundo Nonato, São João do Piauí, Coronel José Dias and Canto do Buriti. It has an area of 1291.4 square kilometres (319,000 acres). The area has the largest concentration of prehistoric small farms in the Americas (North, Central and South). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Serra dos Órgãos ("Organs Range", "Range of the Organs") is a mountain range in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which was turned into a national park in 1939. It is located about a one-hour drive from the city of Rio de Janeiro. The Serra dos Órgãos National Park was created in 1939 as the third national park in Brazil. The objective was to protect the native forest on the hillsides and the fresh water springs abundant in the region. When created the park occupied land previously controlled by four municipalities: Petrópolis, Teresópolis, Guapimirim and Magé. The origin of the unusual name is credited to early Portuguese settlers who thought the ensemble of the hill tops resembled the pipes of organs in European cathedrals. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Vale do Catimbau National Park is a national park of Brazil. Located at the city of Buíque in the state of Pernambuco. The Catimbau Valley or Vale do Catimbau in Portuguese it is Brazil 2nd largest archeological site. Among its natural attractions, are beautiful canyons, over 2,000 caves, and 28 registered areas with pre-historical cave paintings. The Brazilian federal government has listed the valley as a Unit of Integral Conservation and Preservation. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Archipiélago de Juan Fernández National Park is a national park located 667 kilometres west of Chile's mainland port of San Antonio, in the Juan Fernández Archipelago. The park covers 96 square kilometres and comprises the islands: Santa Clara, Alejandro Selkirk and the most part of the Robinson Crusoe Island. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Bernardo O'Higgins National Park is the largest of the protected areas in Chile, covering an area of 35,259 km2 (13,614 sq mi) in both the Aisén and Magallanes and Antártica Chilena regions. The park is named after General Bernardo O'Higgins, first head of state of the Republic of Chile. Los Glaciares National Park (Argentina) and Torres del Paine National Park are its neighbours to the east, Laguna San Rafael National Park is located to the north, the Alacalufes National Reserve to the southwest and the Katalalixar National Reserve to the northwest. In June 2007 it was announced that between March and May 2007 all the water within a glacial lake located within the park had disappeared, leaving behind a 100-foot-deep crater. Only some blocks of ice, previously floating on the lake, remained behind on the crater floor. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Conguillío National Park is located in the Andes, in the provinces of Cautín and Malleco, in the Araucanía Region of Chile. Its name derives from the Mapuche word for "water with Araucaria seeds". This national park covers about 608 square kilometers. Among the attractions in the park are the Llaima volcano, Sierra Nevada and wild landscapes characterized by islands of vegetation completely surrounded by vast areas of basaltic to andesitic lava flows. Extensive forests, formed mainly by Araucarias and Nothofagus, and lagoons increase the scenic beauty of the park. It is also known as Los Paraguas (The Umbrellas), due to the shape of the Monkey Puzzle trees. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Corcovado National Park is an 726,000-acre (2,940 km2) preserved area of Valdivian temperate rainforest, high peaks, alpine lakes, and rivers in Chile's Los Lagos Region. This coastal park borders the same name to the west and includes the iconic volcanoes Corcovado and Yanteles. This preserved area has no public access infrastructure. Corcovado National Park represents an innovative joint public/ private conservation effort. While most of the park's area was previously federal land, mostly under the jurisdiction of the Chilean Armed Forces, the 1994 purchase of a key 208,000-acre (840 km2) parcel by the Conservation Land Trust and U.S. philanthropist Peter Buckley sparked the effort to transform this area into a national park. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Huerquehue National Park is located in the Andes, in the Araucanía Region of Chile, east of Caburgua Lake. The park encompasses 125 square kilometres of mountainous terrain and has an elevation range from 720 to 2,000 m asl. One of the most noteworthy features of Huerquehue NP are its millenarian forests of Araucarias, which are the perfect backdrop for the small lakes and ponds that dot the park. Tinquilco Lake lies in the lower portion of this protected area. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Lauca National Park is located in Chile's far north, in the Andean range. It encompasses an area of 1,379 km² of altiplano and mountains, the latter consisting mainly of enormous volcanoes. Las Vicuñas National Reserve is its neighbour to the south. Both protected areas, along with Salar de Surire Natural Monument, form Lauca Biosphere Reserve. The park borders Sajama National Park in Bolivia. One of the main attractions of the park is the small lacustrine area formed by Chungará and Cotacotani lakes, which lies at the foothills of the Nevados de Payachata. Other majestic volcanoes forming part of the national park are the Guallatiri and the Acotango. Lauca features include archaeological sites, lava fields and volcanic calderas. Within the park is located the town of Parinacota with its colonial church. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Located in the Atacama Region of Chile at 93.2 miles from Copiapó. Nevado Tres Cruces National Park includes Laguna Santa Rosa, Laguna del Negro Francisco, and a part of the Salar de Maricunga. The park is divided into two zones, the northern zone encompasing the southern portion of Salar de Maricunga and Laguna Santa Rosa, and the southern area the Laguna del Negro Francisco. The park is named after Nevado Tres Cruces, which dominates the landscape of the area. The Nevado Tres Cruces National Park is managed by CONAF, which offers two refuges in the area: one at the south of Negro Francisco Lagoon and other at the west of Santa Rosa Lagoon. The administration charges a fee to enter the park which is $2.000 CLP and $500 CLP for children.The park is open from October to April from 8 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Pan de Azúcar National Park is a national park of Chile. The park straddles the border between the Antofagasta Region and the Atacama Region. Its name, Parque Nacional Pan de Azúcar, means "sugar loaf". The park is located 30 km north of Chañaral and 180 km north of Copiapó. It was founded in 1985 and has an extension of 437.54 km² (including 1.1 km² of insular terrain). It is importance derives from the relative diversity of species. A small gravel road leads along the ocean to the park, passing Playa Amarilla (yellow beach) and Playa Blanca (white beach) on the way. Many cactus species can be observed along the road. Some people make the tour by bicycle and spend the night at Caleta Pan de Azúcar or camp on the mountains (the night can get uncomfortably cold because of the mist). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Puyehue National Park is located in the Andes, in Los Ríos and Los Lagos Region of Chile. It covers 1,068 km2 (412 sq mi). The Route 215 passes through the park. It connects with the Argentine Route 231 via Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass. Its flora and fauna in the lower parts is that one of Valdivian temperate rain forest and is similar to that of its southern neighbor, the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. The rivers Gol-Gol and Chanleufú flow through the park, whereas the major lakes within it are Gris and Constancia. The park features numerous waterfalls. Among them is 'Salto del Indio. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Queulat National Park is a national park of Chile located in the Aisén Region. The park is bordered by the Cisnes River on the south side and is neighbor to Lago Rosselot National Reserve. It contains 1,541 km2 (595 sq mi) of glacier-capped mountains and virgin evergreen forests. Local relief is dominated by the Patagonian Andes, with some elevations greater than 2,000 m (6,562 ft) above sea level. A portion of the Puyuhuapi Volcanic Group form part of the park, specifically the area south of the Lake Risopatrón. The park comprises two small ice fields, with glaciers of up to 12 km (7 mi) long. The largest glaciated area is Queulat ice cap, which encompasses about 80 km2 (31 sq mi) and contains park's centerpiece, the Queulat Hanging Glacier. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The early history involves human settlement roughly one millennium before present. Subsequent human overpopulation and resultant deforestation led to collapse of the human society. Archaeological evidence of the earlier habitation consists of the moai themselves as well as the pollen and fossil records. Through these records, scientists have come to understand the role of a now extinct Rapa Nui Palm, which offered food, fuel and transport for the early settlers. Chile first declared the island a National Park in 1935, and on 22 March 1996 UNESCO designated the island a World Heritage Site. Park boundaries have since varied on several occasions, to return land to the islanders. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Tolhuaca National Park encompasses part of the forested lower western spurs and foothills of the Andes of the Araucanía Region of southern Chile. Adjoining the park to the north is Malleco National Reserve. The park has an elevation of 700 m asl at its western end and 1,821 m asl at its eastern end. It includes small lakes and numerous ponds. Among them are the Laguna Malleco and the Laguna Verde. The Malleco River's source is located within the park and Tolhuaca volcano is situated in the vicinity of the park. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Torres del Paine National Park (Parque Nacional Torres del Paine) is a national park encompassing a mountains, glacier, lake, and river-rich areas in southern Chilean Patagonia. The Cordillera del Paine is the centerpiece of the park. It lies in a transition area between the Magellanic subpolar forests and the Patagonian Steppes. The park is located 112 km (70 mi) north of Puerto Natales and 312 km (194 mi) north of Punta Arenas. Bernardo O'Higgins National Park is its neighbour to the west, while Los Glaciares National Park is located to the north in Argentine territory. She and her party were the first tourists to visit what is now called Torres del Paine National Park. Several European scientists and explorers visited the area in the following decades, including Otto Nordenskiöld, Carl Skottsberg and Alberto María de Agostini. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is located in Los Lagos Region, Llanquihue Province, of Chile. Its western entrance is close to the Ensenada locality, 82 km (51 mi) northeast of the provincial capital of Puerto Montt, and 64 km (40 mi) from Puerto Varas along Ruta CH-225. This national park covers about 2,530 km2 (977 sq mi) and is almost entirely in the Andes mountain chain. The adjacent national parks Vicente Pérez Rosales and Puyehue National Park in Chile, and Nahuel Huapi National Park and Lanín National Park in Argentina, provide a continuous protected area of close to 15,000 km2 (5,792 sq mi). In the late 19th century, a regular freight and tourist service between Puerto Montt was established, together with hotels and lodges. There are modern good quality hotels at the lake access points Petrohue and Peulla. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Villarrica National Park is located in the Andes, in the Araucanía and Los Ríos regions of Chile, near Pucón. The centerpiece of the park is a line of three volcanoes stretching transversely to the Andean range: Villarrica, Quetrupillán, and Lanín. Roble and Raulí tree species are found at lower elevations. Coihues occur in the wettest areas. At higher elevations, forests are dominated by the Araucarias. The park's forests provide habitat for wildlife such as cougars, chilla and Culpeo foxes, Pudúes, Coypus, Harris's Hawks, Lesser Grisons, Molina's Hog-nosed Skunks, and the rare Monitos del Monte. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Volcán Isluga National Park is located in the Andes, in the Tarapacá Region of Chile, near Colchane and south of Lauca Biosphere Reserve. It covers 1,747 square kilometers, with elevations ranging between 2,100 and 5,550 meters. It is named after Volcán Isluga, which at 5,550 m, is the tallest mountain in this park. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Iguazú National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the Iguazú Department, in the north of the province of Misiones, Argentine Mesopotamia. It has an area of 550 km2 (212 sq mi). The park was created in 1934 and it contains one of the greatest natural beauties of Argentina, the Iguazu Falls, surrounded by the subtropical jungle. Across the Iguazu River lies its Brazilian counterpart (Iguaçu National Park). Both sites were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, in 1984 and 1986. The area of the park was inhabited 10,000 years ago by the hunter-gatherers of the Eldoradense culture. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ischigualasto is a geological formation and a natural park associated with it in the province of San Juan, north-western Argentina, near the border with Chile. The Ischigualasto Provincial Park is located in the north-east of the province (30°S 68°W / 30°S 68°W / -30; -68), and its northern border is the Talampaya National Park, in La Rioja, both of which belong to the same geological formation. It has an area of 603.7 km2 (233 sq mi), most of them within the Valle Fértil Department, with a minor part in the Jachal Department of San Juan, at an altitude of about 1,300 m (4,265 ft) above mean sea level. The park is part of the western border of the Pampean Hills, and it features typical desert vegetation (bushes, cacti and some trees) which covers between 10 and 20% of the area. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Lago Puelo National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the northwest of the province of Chubut, in the Patagonia. It has an area of 276.74 km². It was created in order to protect its wonderful landscape and the Valdivian flora, as an annex to the Los Alerces National Park, and declared National Park and independent reserve in 1971. The protected area is named after the Puelo Lake, and belongs to the Patagonic forest and steppes and High Andes eco-regions, with maximum heights of two hundred meters over sea level. The climate is cold and wet, with snowfall in winter. The valley has a trans-Andean connection and a particular microclimate. The mountainous zone where the park lies was modified by the action of glaciers, which created many rivers and lakes, including the one (Puelo Lake) that gives the park its name. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Lanín National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the Neuquén Province, with forests of diverse tree varieties, mainly Fagaceae and conifers such as the lenga and the Araucaria, many species of which are not found elsewhere in Argentina. The tourist city of San Martín de los Andes on the shore of Lake Lácar serves as hub for tourists visiting the park, as well as to skiers visiting the nearby Chapelco ski centre. Within the park is located the famous Lanín volcano, with its cone shape and snowy top. It also holds the Huechulafquen, Aluminé, and Lácar lakes among others. In them, and the numerous rivers and streams, sport fishing of salmon and trout is practiced. The animal life of the park is similar to the southern Nahuel Huapi National Park. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Los Arrayanes National Park is a national park of Argentina with an area of 17.53 square kilometres. It covers the Quetrihué Peninsula on the shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake in the province of Neuquén, 3 km from Villa la Angostura. To protect the soil and the roots of these fragile trees, a wooden path has been made for the tourist to enjoy the view of the cinnamon-coloured trees. Even though arrayán trees (Luma apiculata) can be seen on the way to the end of the peninsula, the forest of 300 year old arrayanes covers 0.2 km² of the southern point, with individuals of over 600 years. The forest can be reached by boat from different points of the Nahuel Huapi lake, or a 12 km path from the beginning of the park at the port of Villa La Angostura. This path, full of ups and downs, is also popularly done by mountain bike. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Los Cardones National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the center-west of the province of Salta, within the San Carlos and Cachi Departments, in the Argentine Northwest. The park has an area of 650 square kilometres, with hills and ravines at the height levels between 2,700 m and 5,000 m. It gets its name from the prevalence of cardones bush formations. It features fossil remains of extinct animals, as well as dinosaur tracks. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (Spanish: The Glaciers) is a national park in the Santa Cruz Province, in Argentine Patagonia. It comprises an area of 4459 km². In 1981 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Between the two halves is a non-touristic zone without lakes called Zona Centro. The national park, created in 1937, is the second largest in Argentina. Its name refers to the giant ice cap in the Andes range that feeds 47 large glaciers, of which only 13 flow towards the Atlantic Ocean. The ice cap is the largest outside of Antarctica and Greenland. In other parts of the world, glaciers start at a height of at least 2,500 meters above mean sea level, but due to the size of the ice cap, these glaciers begin at only 1,500m, sliding down to 200m AMSL, eroding the surface of the mountains that support them. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Monte León National Park (Parque Nacional Monte León) is a national park in Argentina, in Santa Cruz Province. It was established in 2004. The park is home to thousands of penguins and cormorants, as well as pumas, large, flightless birds known as rheas and roaming herds of Guanacos. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Nahuel Huapi National Park, the oldest Argentine national park, covers up the land around Nahuel Huapi Lake in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes. It was established in 1934, but the nucleus of the park is the land donated to the federal government by Perito Moreno in 1903. The park covers approximately 7050 km² and is located in the southwest of the Neuquén and northwest of the Río Negro provinces bordering with Chile. The largest city within the park and a base for tourism is the city of San Carlos de Bariloche. Villa La Angostura is another lakeside resort also within the boundaries of the park. The park is famous for its rich wildlife and it covers many biotopes, due to altitudes ranging from 700 to 3,000 m and precipitation ranging from rain forests with 4,000 mm/yr on the western slopes to steppes with less than 300 mm/yr on the eastern side. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Sierra de las Quijadas National Park (Parque Nacional Sierra de las Quijadas) is a national park in Argentina, in San Luis Province. It was established in 1991. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Talampaya National Park is a national park located in the east/centre of La Rioja Province, Argentina. It was designated a provincial reserve in 1975, a national park in 1997, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The park covers an area of 2,150km², at an altitude of 1,500m above mean sea level. Its purpose is to protect important archaeological and palaeontological sites found in the area. It has landscapes of great beauty, with flora and fauna typical of the mountain biome. The park is in a basin between the Cerro Los Colorados to the west and the Sierra de Sañagasta to the east. The landscape is the result of erosion by water and wind in a desert climate, with large ranges in temperature – high heat by day and low temperature at night, with torrential rain in summer and strong wind in spring. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Valdes Peninsula (Spanish: Península Valdés) is a peninsula on the Atlantic coast in the Viedma Department in the north east of Chubut Province, Argentina. About 3,625 km2 (896,000 acres; 1,400 sq mi) in size, it is an important nature reserve which was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. The nearest large town is Puerto Madryn. The only town on the peninsula is the small settlement of Puerto Piramides. There are also a number of estancias, where sheep are raised. Most of the peninsula is barren land with some salt lakes. The largest of these lakes is at an elevation of about 40 m below sea level (see extremes on Earth), until recently thought to be the lowest elevation in Argentina and South America. (The lowest point being Laguna del Carbón, Argentina). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area (Spanish: Área Natural Única Los Estoraques) is one of the smaller national parks, covering only 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi), located in the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia in the Norte de Santander Department. The landscape is shaped by large brownstone pedestals and columns formed by thousands of years of erosion. The area is part of the Catatumbo River basin and elevation range from 1,450 to 1,900 meters above mean sea level. It was declared a Área Natural Única (Unique Natural Area) in 1998. The climate is warm and predominantly dry. The average temperature is 22°C and the average yearly rainfall is 870 mm, with a dry season from January to March. The evapotranspiration is twice that of precipitation, causing a water deficit. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Los Nevados National Natural Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados) is a national park located in the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes. The 5,300-meter high volcano Nevado del Ruiz is dominating Los Nevados. Out of the 55 protected areas in Colombia, Los Nevados National Natural Park was the third most visited in 2009, with 50,045 visitors. The most visited was the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park followed by the Tayrona National Natural Park. In addition to Nevado del Ruiz, seven other volcanoes are located in the area, Nevado del Tolima, Santa Isabel, Nevado del Quindío, Páramo de Santa Rosa, Cerro Bravo, Cerro Machín and Nevado El Cisne. Glacial activity has shaped the landscape 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above mean sea level, leaving U-shaped valleys and moraines behind. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Munchique National Natural Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Natural Munchique) is a national park located in the Cauca Department in the Cordillera Occidental range in the Andean Region of Colombia. There are 30 streams and rivers, and 40 waterfalls in the area. The diversity of thermal levels makes the park a paradise for birds, especially hummingbirds. It is located in El Tambo, on the western slopes of the Cordillera Occidental, 61 km from the city of Popayán. It shares borders with the municipalities of Lopez, and Morales Cajibio. It was declared a national park in May 1977 and covers and area of 440 km2 (170 sq mi). The park takes its name from the Munchique Mountain, located in the southeast part of the area. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Puracé National Natural Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Natural Puracé) is a national park located in the Andean Region of Colombia, southeast of the city of Popayán in the Cordillera Central range. Its main feature is the active stratovolcano Puracé, one of Colombia's most active volcanoes. Four of the country's most important rivers originate within the area: Magdalena River, Cauca River, Japurá River and Patía River. It was established in 1961 as the first national park in the Cauca Department. During the 1990s the FARC guerrilla used the park as a base camp, but it has been cleaned of the forces since 2002 after the President of Colombia Álvaro Uribe's campaign against the movement. The only active volcano in the area is Puracé at 4,580 metres (15,030 ft) above mean sea level. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Sumapaz Paramo (Spanish Páramo de Sumapaz – meaning "Utterly peaceful moorland") is a large páramo ecosystem located in the Altiplano Cundiboyacense mountain range, considered the largest páramo ecosystem in the world. It was declared a National Park of Colombia in 1977 because of its importance as a biodiversity hotspot and main source of water for the most densely populated area of the country, the Bogotá Savannah. Sumapaz Paramo was considered a sacred place for the Muisca aboriginal people. It was associated with the divine forces of creation and the origin of mankind, a domain where the humans were not supposed to enter. During the 16th century, German adventurer and conquistador Nikolaus Federmann conducted an expedition crossing the Sumapaz, searching for El Dorado mythic treasure, with heavy casualties. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Tayrona National Natural Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona) is a protected area in the Colombian northern Caribbean region and within the jurisdiction of the Department of Magdalena and some 34 km from the city of Santa Marta. The park presents a biodiversity endemic to the area of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range presenting a variety of climates (mountain climate) and geography that ranges from arid sea level to 900 meters above sea level. The park covers some 30 square kilometres of maritime area in the Caribbean sea and some 150 km² of land. It was the second most visited national park in Colombia in 2009, with 211.833 visitors. The most visited park was the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Cotopaxi National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Cotopaxi) is a protected area in Ecuador situated in the Cotopaxi Province, Napo Province and Pichincha Province. The volcano that lends its name to the park is located within its boundaries. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Parque Nacional Cajas (Cajas National Park) is a national park in the highlands of Ecuador. It is located about 30 km west from Cuenca, the capital of the province of Azuay. The area of 285.44 km² (28,544 ha) between 3100m and 4450m above sea level offers a tundra vegetation on a jagged landscape of hills and valleys. It was declared a National Park on November 5, 1996 by resolution N° 057. The name "Cajas" is derived from the Quichua word "cassa" meaning "gateway to the snowy mountains". or "caxa" (Quichua:cold).. It has also been linked to the Spanish word "cajas" (boxes). The highest point is the 4,450 m high Cerro Arquitectos (Architect's Hill). About 270 lakes and lagoons can be found in the páramo of Cajas. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Kaieteur National Park is a National Park located in the Potaro-Siparuni Region of Guyana. The Park's boundaries and purpose are defined in the Kaieteur National Park Act, and was created to preserve the natural scenery (including Kaieteur Falls), and its fauna and flora. The Act is administered by the Kaieteur National Park Commission. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Huascarán National Park. This park is the habitat of the Puya raimondi, the Cougar, the Jaguar, the Llama, the Guanaco, the Marsh Deer, the Peruvian Tapir, the Peruvian Piedtail, a hummingbird species, and many kinds of ducks including the Southern Pochard. Its protection was initially arranged by the Peruvian government in 1975 in order to safeguard flora and fauna, geological formations, archaeological remains (including relics of the Chavin culture), and the panoramic scenery of the Cordillera Blanca, and to encourage scientific research into the area's natural and cultural resources. Tourism is promoted in the area, making its protected status a source of wealth for its inhabitants and others. In 1985 the park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Huascarán National Park is home to mountains ranging from 2000 to over 6000 m in height. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Canaima National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Canaima) is a 30,000 km² park in south-eastern Venezuela that borders Brazil and Guyana. It is located in the state of Bolívar, and roughly occupies the same area as the Gran Sabana region. Pemons have developed some basic and luxurious camps, which are mainly visited by tourists from across the world. The park was established on the 12 June 1962. It is the second largest park in the country, after Parima-Tapirapecó and is the size of Belgium or Maryland. The most famous tepuis in the park are Mount Roraima, the tallest and easiest to climb, and Auyantepui, from which fall the Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. The tepuis are sandstone and date back to a time when South America and Africa were part of a super-continent. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The El Ávila National Park (or Waraira Repano, from an indigenous name for the area) covers part of the mountainous region of the coastal area of north-central Venezuela. The area's highest elevation is Pico Naiguatá, at 2.765 meters above sea level (9.071 feet). The National Park is named for the Cerro El Ávila (Mountain El Ávila), usually just referred to as "El Ávila", which reaches 2.740 meters 8.990 feet above sea level. This mountain rises north of the capital Caracas located in a narrow valley 950 meters (3115 feet) above sea level and separates the city from the Caribbean Sea. The mountain is accessible by cable car (teleferico), by off road vehicle or on foot. El Ávila National Park is located along the central stretch of the Cordillera de la Costa Mountains in northern Venezuela. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Henri Pittier National Park was created in 1937 and is the oldest of Venezuela's national parks. It is famous for its birdlife. Its eco-systems vary with altitude. The park was first called Rancho Grande, but was re-named Henri Pittier in recognition of the Swiss biologist who was instrumental in its foundation. Henri Pittier arrived in Venezuela in 1917, and classified more than 30 thousand species of plants in the country and he decided to dedicate some years in studying the flora and fauna in the area of the current park. Henri Pittier was the one who started Venezuelan National Park history. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Parque Nacional Los Médanos de Coro is located in the state of Falcón, Venezuela, near the city of Coro on the road that leads to Paraguaná. The National Park was created in 1974. The Médanos park lies on the Isthmus of Médanos and covers 91.280 hm² of desert and coastal habitat, including salt marshes. The massive sand dunes, known as Médanos, spread over an area of approximately 5 by 30 kilometers. They can reach 40 meters in height and are constantly transformed by the unrelenting wind. Rainfall is rare, thus flora consists of little more than thorny shrubs. Fauna is likewise scarce; the park is home mainly to lizards, rabbits, anteaters, foxes, pigeons and kestrels. Visitors can wander amongst the dunes by camel (imported many years ago), and the park is easily reached by bus or taxi from Coro. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Mochima National Parkis located in the States of Anzoátegui and Sucre (state), on the northeastern coast of Venezuela. The park covers 94,935 hectares and is made up of an exclusively marine area in its western sector (Anzoátegui State), a coastal marine area that includes the Gulf of Santa Fé and Mochima Bay, and a mountainous area that covers the Turimiquire Dam watershed (Sucre State). Mochima Park was created to protect the montane forests of the Turimiquire Range and the country's eastern Caribbean Sea marine landscapes, which are exceptionally beautiful. However, this is one of the most threatened parks in Venezuela. Recently two large construction projects have been in motion which are altering the park permanently. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Morrocoy National Park is located in the northwest of Venezuela, between the towns of Tucacas and Chichiriviche, at the south east part of Falcón. Its continental and sea areas include mountains, shoreline, mangrove swamps, coral reefs and little islands called “Cayos”. It has a surface area of 32,090 hectares. It was declared national park by the Venezuelan government on 26 May 1974 in order to protect it from human intervention. Flora and Fauna are considered to be very important by local administration. It is a nature reserve and a tourist attraction. People go there mostly on weekends and holidays to have beach days, see the landscape, do some water sports, etc. People can take their private boats or pay for a boat service to stroll around and get to the "cayos". (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)