Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Barranca del Cupatitzio) is a national park in the Mexican state of Michoacán, centered around the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River. The river emerges from an underground spring, carving a small ravine as the water begins to flow. The park is known for its abundant streams and springs, many of which cascade down the sides of the ravine to form small waterfalls.
| Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park | |
|---|---|
| Parque Nacional Barranca del Cupatitzio | |
IUCN category II (national park) | |
The cascades of Tzararácua | |
| Location | Uruapan and Nuevo Parangaricutiro Municipalities, Michoacán, Mexico |
| Nearest city | Uruapan, Michoacán |
| Coordinates | 19°25′48″N 102°06′00″W |
| Area | 458.21 hectares (1,132.3 acres) |
| Established | November 2, 1938 |
| Governing body | Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources |
Barranca del Cupatitzio was declared a federally protected area in 1938, after the land was bought by the Mexican government to create a recreation area. Most of the park is located in the northwest part of the municipality of Uruapan, with the rest located in the neighboring municipality of Nuevo Parangaricutiro. The park is largely urban, with the most popular section entirely surrounded by the city of Uruapan. Inside, the ground is soft and wet, with broad-leafed temperate and tropical vegetation, various walking paths near the river, and a number of artificial fountains built on the sides of the ravine to take advantage of natural water flows. The park attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.