Wetlands and water network
The Meullín-Puye Nature Sanctuary contains several wetlands:
These include peat bogs (wetland that has accumulated organic matter), mallines (floodplains), hualves (swamp forests), grasslands, lakes, rivers and streams. These latter are an important part of the Sanctuary’s extensive water network, which originates in its mountains and glaciers, and travels towards its coasts crossing forests and wetlands, like arteries that provide water and life to its ecosystems.
The importance of all these wetlands lies in their high biological diversity, as they provide habitats for a wide variety of flora and fauna species.
Furthermore, they play a key role in the water cycle, stabilizing water supply, mitigating the effects of floods and droughts, purifying polluted water, protecting coastlines, and recharging aquifers. However, despite their important functions, wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world.
