Tapanti National Park

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Tapantí – Cerro de la Muerte Massif National Park, (Spanish: Parque Nacional Tapantí – Macizo Cerro de la Muerte), is a National Park in the Central Conservation Area of Costa Rica located on the edge of the Talamanca Range, near Cartago. It protects forests to the north of Chirripó National Park, and also contains part of the Orosí River. The area known as Cerro de la Muerte Massif was added to the park on January 14, 2000.

The southwest border of the protected area corresponds partially to Route 2, Carretera Interamericana Sur (South Inter-american Highway), the Los Quetzales National Park and Los Santos Forest Reserve are located on the other side of this road.

The park covers 583.20 square kilometres (225.17 sq mi) and two life zones: lower montane rain forest and pre-montane rain forest. These forests provide habitat for some 45 mammal species, including the Baird’s tapir, kinkajou, white-faced capuchin monkey, paca, agouti, ocelot, and jaguarundi. The park’s 400 bird species include sparrow hawks, resplendent quetzals, emerald toucanets, and violaceous trogons. There are 28 species of reptiles and amphibians, and a large insect population that includes the thysania agrippina, the largest moth on the American continent.