When one thinks of the natural beauty of Venezuela, vast landscapes of sandy beaches, luscious jungles, and mangrove covered mountains come to mind. Mochima National Park is a beautiful area of protected wilderness showcasing these things. The park is located on the northeast coast of Venezuela and goes through the states of Anzoategui and Sucre. It was established as a park in 1973 to protect over 200,000 acres including the Turimiquire Range and the aquatic landscapes found on the eastern coast. Mochima Park supports a wide range of life such as mangrove trees, many different types of coral and flowers, 78 different species of mammals (including 4 types of endangered sea turtles), and about 30 different species of reptiles. Popular recreational activities include snorkeling and scuba diving around the beautiful reefs and exploring the lush mountains. Mochima National Park was established on parts of land that was already occupied by humans. This has created problems due to urban development of the preexisting communities. The wildlife and ecosystem have been damaged due to things such as community expansion, mining in the area, and the highway that has been built through the park. In the future, I hope this park can keep as undeveloped as possible to preserve the natural beauty located within.
http://www.lostworldadventures.com/countries/venezuela/vzregions/coast/east/mochima.htm
http://www.parkswatch.org/parkprofiles/pdf/monp_eng.pdf
http://www.parkswatch.org/parkprofiles/pdf/monp_eng.pdf