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It was
created in 1985. It includes 20400 hectares and protects
the largest area of native forests in the province. It
is located on the plains in the North-central area of
the province of Mendoza, in the so-called Guanacache
Crossing. The climate is is typical of desert areas with wide
variations in temperature with very hot summers and cold
winters. The temperatures range from 40-42 degrees
Celsius in the summer and as low as -10°C in the winter.
The region has a great biodiversity, despite being
located in the most arid zone of Mendoza (150mm of
annual rainfall).
The name of this reservation comes from the language
huarpe Chrein or Teñc = mature and Chreca or Teak =
fruit or seed, interpreted as a ripe fruit, possibly the
carob tree as this was the base of the diet for these tribes.
From the biological point of view, the reservation is
located within the phytogeographic province of Monte and
has the influence of the wetlands species.
The park rangers’ base is called El Pichón, and there is
a very interesting interpretation centre.
The basic idea behind the creation of this reservation
was the preservation of the sweet carob (Prosopis
flexuosa) forest. This species is the most abundant tree
in the area, and it forms open forests of dispersed
trees. Depending on the groundwater (water tables) which
is at a depth of about 10 metres, this forest dominates
the low altitude sites or low dunes. This latter feature
can be seen in the "altos limpios" (clean dunes), which
because of their height (up to 15 metres) only allow the
growth of the carob in the spaces between the dunes.
This vegetation is called “freatófito forest" because
the adult carobs get their water mainly from the water
table levels.
The carobs from this region are the highest native and
wild trees in Mendoza, and the oldest specimens reach up
to 15 metres. The forest, in general, is open and it
becomes denser in the paths or channels of temporary
rivers. It is assumed that the forests in the area were
not as heavily deforested as in other areas because the
dunes hinder access to exploitation by Man. The cutting
of trees was intense at the beginning of the 20th
century to produce coal (for the train and for the
lighting of the city). The carob wood is hard and has a
high caloric potential.
The sweet carob is the key species in the Telteca
ecosystem since its protection ensures the conservation
of a large number of plant and animal species (“umbrella
species”). Its ecological functions within this
ecosystem are the most varied: it is a source of food
for herbivorous animals (mara, cuises, field mice,
viscacha), both due to their leaves and for its
nutritious fruit in sheath. Its leaves provide nesting
sites, they favour reproduction and care for territories
behaviours for a large number of bird species; their
peripheral thorny branches, reaching to the ground,
provide shelter for small animals that build dens under
their treetops. In addition, this tree provides shade.
Many insects that are attracted by their flowers, fruits
and trunks are a rich source of food for birds, lizards,
predator insects and spiders.
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