El Tambor
El Tambor is an isolated massif in the Venezuelan Andes with unique landscape and environmental characteristics. Due to its abundant biodiversity and the number of endemic species inhabiting its cloud forest, many experts consider it a continental island. At Proyecto El Tambor, with the help of experts, we compiled catalogs of the flora and fauna that inhabit this ecosystem, documenting approximately 471 species of birds, more than 140 species of mammals, 42 species of reptiles, 28 species of amphibians, more than 200 species of orchids, as well as many other species of plants, trees, fungi, and insects.
El Tambor is located in Mérida, Venezuela, between the municipalities of Sucre, Campo Elías and Andrés Bello, covering an area of 7015 hectares, between 2,000 and 3,025 meters above sea level
Climate
The climate of El Tambor is classified as seasonally humid mountain, characterized by high humidity and frequent fog throughout the year. The average annual temperature is 12.6°C, with an average maximum of 22°C and an average minimum of 5°C. Average annual rainfall is 1489 mm, with a period of lower precipitation between December and March.
Vegetation
The main vegetation of El Tambor is cloud forest, characterized by the constant presence of fog and clouds at tree level, high levels of rainfall throughout the year, and an abundance of ferns and orchids. Some authors describe the area's vegetation as high montane cloud forest, evergreen, with an irregular canopy between 20 and 30 meters high, around 2,200 meters above sea level, which thins to about 10 meters between 2,900 and 3,000 meters above sea level. According to studies, there are approximately 114 species of trees and palms, 369 species of spermatophytes and pteridophytes, and 17 species of moss.
At higher altitudes (3000m), the vegetation is typical of the moorland, with the presence of low trees, shrubs and frailejones.
Geology
Much of the El Tambor area lies on the rocks of the Colón Formation, which is primarily composed of stratified black shales interbedded with relatively wide intervals of very fine sandstones and siltstones. Outcrops of this formation can be found along the highway. The rocks of this formation give rise to a very irregular topography, ranging from gentle to very steep slopes, as well as clay soils that, during the rainy season, are prone to rapid mass movements such as landslides and rockfalls. Slow mass movements, such as soil creep, are also common and are easily distinguished by the formation of terraces caused by cattle grazing in the pastures. You can see the geological map of El Tambor on our website. Map Gallery.
You can learn a little more about El Tambor and our activities in the following video:
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