San Juan Creek
San Juan Creek begins its course in a well-preserved wetland called La San Juana. This small, clear, and calm stream flows sinuously as it seeks to join the Carare River. In several areas surrounding San Juan Creek, some fragments of forest (photo) still remain. Their good state of conservation has allowed the presence of some very unique and highly threatened wildlife species, including the Brown spider monkey (Ateles hybridus).
Carare-Opón Remnants
The Carare and Opón rivers, both originating on the western slope of the Eastern Andes and tributaries of the Magdalena River, gave their name to an extensive forest that for a long time shaped the course of wildlife in this central region of Colombia. However, little by little, these forests disappeared due to cattle pastures, which now seem to dominate the landscape. Nevertheless, some ranches still manage to conserve and protect several of the remaining forest fragments, such as the one shown in this photo, which remain standing.
An Inside Look
Adjacent to the Barbacoas Marsh, in Antioquia territory, west of the Magdalena River, several relatively well-preserved forest fragments still persist. The image accompanying these words offers an inside look at one of these forests, where, in addition to the presence of tree species with valuable wood, threatened birds like the Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti) find shelter. This is a species WCS works to protect within the framework of the Proyecto Vida Silvestre.
The Forests of La San Juana
Among the many wetlands that give life to the Magdalena River as it passes through the border between Santander and Antioquia, there is a kind of semi-hidden treasure worth highlighting. Its name? La San Juana Marsh. This body of water, with a surface area of nearly 92 hectares, is surrounded in some areas by forests that, like the one in the photo, serve as home to many mammals (around 42 species have been recorded). Among them is the capybara, a rodent scientifically known as Hydrochoerus isthmius.
Evening Falls
At this point, only a few kilometers remain before the Carare River (photo) merges into the generous waters of the Magdalena River. Born in Andean landscapes, in the Eastern Andes, the dark waters of the Carare appear calmer as it flows through these lands near the municipality of Cimitarra, in Santander. Without a doubt, the sky in this image, as well as its reflection on the tributary, honor the colors of this very typical Magdalena Medio sunset.
Traslated with AI support