2. Cerro La Campana

"Mining activity in the Andes is millenary, perhaps as old as man on our continent. The extraction of salt and borates from the salt flats, the exploitation of clay banks for the manufacture of ceramic vessels, the extraction of volcanic glass and basalts for the manufacture of projectile points or other cutting tools, the collection of sediments of different shades for use as pigments, the location of quartz veins and semi precious rocks for the elaboration of ornaments, the outcrops of granitic rock with which they made hammers, mills or sculptures, the use of mud for bricks and plaster, and the list goes on with many varieties of elements of volcanic, metamorphic and sedimentary origin that were used for different purposes since immemorial times".

Christian Vitry, Mountaineer and Anthropologist

“The story goes back to the time of La Conquista (Conquest of Chile), when the Spaniards recently arrived in the Limache Valley heard from the local natives that in ancient times the cone of La Campana was a rock glittering with gold and gems, coveted by a foreign and courageous nation, that came to conquer it, but that the machis, or sorcerers of the place, resolved to outwit the greed of the strangers, arranging that in one night a thick layer of granite would fall on the enchanted hill, which would hide its coveted treasures forever”.

Andrés González Valencia

4. Sclerophyllous Forest

The sclerophyllous forest is a plant formation characteristic of Mediterranean climates where rainfall is concentrated in the winter months, while the summer months are usually very dry and warm. This type of forest is located between the Valparaíso region and the Biobío region, in the area commonly known as Central Chile.

The species of plants that predominate in this forest are prepared to resist drought and high summer temperatures because their leaves are very hard and thick. In addition, there is a predominance of perennial tree and shrub species, meaning that they remain green all year round. The tree coverage of this forest can reach up to 15 meters, in coexistence with smaller bushes and shrubs that shelter various species of mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. Among the elements that make up the forest you can find thorny species such as hawthorn (Vachellia caven) or Tevo (Trevoa trinervis); lauriphyllous species such as Belloto del Norte (Beilschmiedia miersii) or Peumo (Cryptocarya alba); and sclerophyllous species such as Litre (Lithraea caustica) or Quillay (Quillaja saponaria).

This type of forest is highly disturbed because it has been cut down for housing construction and agricultural activities, and has been affected by large-scale forest fires in recent decades.

6. Hygrophilous Forest

A hygrophilous or hydrophilous forest is an evergreen plant formation, present in valley bottoms and river banks, i.e., in conditions of very humid soils that are temporarily flooded. These swamp forests develop in areas where the geomorphology benefits the accumulation of humidity, such as ravines. Among the causes of humidity are elements such as precipitation in the form of rain, groundwater upwelling and the influence of coastal fog.

Among the species that reach the highest altitudes in the upper canopy are the Belloto del Norte (Beilschmiedia miersii), the Peumo (Cryptocarya alba), the Naranjillo (Citronella mucronata), the Canelo (Drimys winteri), the Lingue (Persea Lingue) and the Patagua (Crinodendron patagua). In the lower forest layer there are various shrubs of the Myrtaceae family such as the Myrtle (Luma apiculata).

This type of forest is very particular because it represents a disruption compared to the vegetation that predominates in the rest of La Campana National Park, which is better adapted to cope with drought, and because it forms bioclimatic refuges that have allowed the conservation of various species of endemic flora and fauna.

8. Lichens

The adaptability of lichens to adverse conditions, such as the dryness and intense solar radiation that characterize La Campana, is evidence of their ability to cope with extreme conditions. These lichens not only play a fundamental role in soil stability and moisture retention, but are also considered bioindicators of air quality, since their presence and diversity are intrinsically related to the purity of the environment. The conservation of this lichen community becomes a priority to preserve both the ecological integrity of the park and its scientific value by serving as a model of adaptation to adverse environmental conditions and contributing to the understanding of the complex interactions between these symbionts and their environment.

The profound diversity of lichens in La Campana National Park is not only of biological importance, but also adds an attractive aesthetic and scientific component to the region. Observing this diverse lichen community in such a harsh mountain environment underscores the importance of biodiversity and the imperative need to protect and conserve these ecosystems for the benefit of scientific research, and the sustainable enjoyment of future generations.

10. Soil Processes

Edaphology is the science dedicated to the study of soil properties and the processes of its formation, or edaphogenesis. It can be observed in three stages.

First, the parent rock is altered or weathered by factors such as temperature or precipitation.

Then, in second place, the first living beings such as mosses and plants are settled, which will further alter the rock material by influencing the chemical composition of the substrate, providing organic matter and nutrients through their biological processes.

Third, the components will mix through movements generated by the roots and by the flow of air or water through the pores of the substrate, forming a soil layer.

The mixture of diverse nutrients together with the humidity of the zone will allow the growth of diverse species of plants and mosses that will expand the forest surface.

12. Fluvial Plain

Around 1634 the owner of the lands in the Ocoa Valley was Francisco Pedraza, a powerful Chiloé encomendero. His property bordered Llay Llay to the northeast, Quillota to the west, Olmué to the south, and Caleu to the east. He had hemp plantations to make rigging and ropes to supply the army that battled on the Biobío frontier. It also had a vineyard, mill, tannery, cattle, oxen and mules.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the estancia was acquired by the Jesuits. Its main houses were located at the foot of Cerro La Calavera, and they cultivated a vineyard with more than 8,000 plants. They managed a considerable amount of livestock, including 1,791 sheep, 689 cattle and another 357 animals, including horses, mules and donkeys. They harvested between 600 and 800 bushels of coconuts per year, which were highly valued by the crews of the ships.

After the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767, the property was leased and remained practically intact until 1822, when it was divided into five subdivisions: Ocoa, Vista Hermosa, Rabuco, Maitenes de Ocoa and Las Palmas. The latter became the Ocoa sector of La Campana National Park in 1965.

In the 19th century and the first half of the last century, the productive infrastructure implemented by the Jesuits was preserved, maintaining the raising of cattle, the exploitation of vineyards, the beneficiation of gold with mills and wash houses, the old hemp plantations to make rigging and the use of coconuts from the palms.

The productive situation changed strongly with the Agrarian Reform of the 60s and 70s, which led to the expropriation of estates and the subdivision of properties, tenants were given a plot of land in the plan, and in addition, a right to a hill. After the reform was reversed in the following years, many of these properties and rights of the tenants were acquired by outsiders, giving rise to a new population mosaic during the 21st century.