Christoffelpark
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2008) |
| Christoffelpark | |
|---|---|
 Christoffel Mountain | |
  | |
| Location | Curaçao |
| Nearest city | Willemstad |
| Coordinates | 12°20′00″N69°07′00″W/ 12.3333°N 69.1167°W |
| Area | 10.4 km2(4.0 sq mi)[1] |
| Established | 1978[1] |
| Governing body | CARMABI[2] |
| Website | christoffelpark.org |
Christoffelparkis a national park, protected nature area and tourist attraction at the north-western end of the island ofCuraçaosurroundingChristoffelberg(Mt Christoffel).
Notable for its flora, fauna, culture and history, the park includes three former plantations, Plantage Savonet, Plantage Zorgvlied and Plantage Zevenbergen,[3]: 14 a mine complex, Newton, and the island's highest point, Christoffelberg (1,239 feet (378 m)). The park covers 1,860 hectares[3]: 14 of which 1,040 hectares are nature reserve,[1]and has been part of Curaçao's national park system since 1978. It forms part of theNorth-east Curaçao parks and coast Important Bird Area.[4]
As of 2001[update]the park is run by the Carmabi Foundation (Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity Foundation) and can be explored by visitors by car, bike, horse or on foot.
History
[edit]Plantation Savonet in Christoffelpark is one of the earliest plantations to be founded on Curaçao.[5]As of 2011[update]the irrigation system is still reasonably intact. Attempts were made to cultivatealoe,indigofera,sorghum,corn, cotton, and beans. Cows, sheep, goats and poultry were also farmed on the plantation.
The plantation houses of Savonet and Zorgvlied (situated at the mountain side of the park) were built on the island in the eighteenth century. Of Zorgvlied only ruins remain. About 100 metres (330 ft) west of Zorgvlied ruins is the house of the 'bomba', the slave in charge of other slaves, and a 'slave-pole'.
Roads in the park were sealed in 2004.
Flora and fauna
[edit]Chistoffelpark has more biodiversity than elsewhere on the island. Flora present in the park includes three pillar cacti species (datu, kadushi, and kadushi di pushi),divi-divitrees and exotic flowers. Cacti in the park reach up to ten feet high, and several extremely rare orchids, such as thelady of the nightandHumboldt's schomburgkia,can be found blooming on them. Plant species occurring only in Christoffelpark includeMyrcia curassavica,endemic to Curaçao, andMaytenus versluysii,endemic to Curaçao andBonaire.
Fauna notable in the park includes mammals like thewhite-tailed deer,thecottontail,and several species of bats, birds like the rarewhite-tailed hawk,an endemic subspecies ofbarn owl(Tyto alba bargei), hummingbirds like thecommon emeraldand thecrimson topaz,and the endemicyellow oriole.Reptiles and insects are also well represented.
Tourism
[edit]Christoffelpark is open to visitors Monday to Sunday from 6am to 3pm, with no admittance after 1.30 pm. Visitors are not allowed to start climbing Mount Cristoffel after 10am.[6]
There are eight hiking trails in the park, of which the Christoffel Mountain climb is the most challenging. Visitors are advised to attempt this climb early in the morning. There are four sealed roads through the park. Organised tours include a deer-spotting sunset tour, a pick-up safari, and the "Savonet history" tour.
The Savonet Museum is located in the plantation house near the entrance to Christoffelpark, and recounts the history of the Savonet plantation and its owners and slaves.[7]
References
[edit]- ^abc"Curacao".Protected Planet.Retrieved17 April2021.
- ^"Nursery".Christoffelpark(in Dutch).Retrieved17 April2021.
- ^abAdolphe Oscar Debrot (2009)."Cultural ties to the land in an arid plantation setting in Curacao".Research Gate.
- ^"North-east Curaçao parks and coast".BirdLife Data Zone.BirdLife International. 2007.Retrieved21 October2020.
- ^"Landhuis Savonet, Weg naar Westpunt z.n."Curaçao monuments(in Dutch).Retrieved17 April2021.
- ^"Christoffelpark Curacao".Caribbean Research & Management of Biodiversity.Retrieved21 February2011.
- ^"Savonet Museum".Lonely Planet.Retrieved21 April2021.
External links
[edit]- Official site
Media related toChristoffelparkat Wikimedia Commons
