Laguna Blanca National Park

Laguna Blanca National Park
Parque Nacional Laguna Blanca
Emblem of the Laguna Blanca National Park
The Blanca lagoon with fog
Location of Laguna Blanca National Park
LocationNeuquén Province, Argentina
Coordinates39°02′S 70°24′W / 39.033°S 70.400°W / -39.033; -70.400
Area112.5 km2 (43.4 sq mi)
Established1940
Official nameLaguna Blanca
Designated4 May 1992
Reference no.556

Laguna Blanca National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Laguna Blanca) is a National Park in the west of the province of Neuquén, Argentina, close to the town of Zapala.

The park around the lagoon was created in 1940 to protect the lagoon and particularly the population of black-necked swans (Cygnus melancoryphus). It has an area of 112.5 km². The lagoon is situated in the Patagonian steppe, surrounded by hills and gorges.

It has important aquatic bird fauna, of several species and in great number.

The lagoon used to host the largest known subpopulation of the endemic Patagonia frog (Atelognathus patagonicus), but this has been extirpated by introduced predatory fish; the species survives in isolated ponds in the buffer zone of the national park.

Near the lagoon is the Salamanca cave, historically inhabited by humans, where rock paintings, typical of northern Patagonia, can be seen. Other mapuche and prehistoric human artifacts have been found in the park.