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Protected Areas Return to map
Guácimo-Pococí Aquifer Protected Zone
This protected wilderness area was created on January 21, 1987. It is considered one of the most important regions for the water supply of the Atlantic region.
What is an aquifer?
It is a system formed by fractured rocks or sediments such as sand and gravel, along with water that is stored by infiltration of rainfall. The water completely fills the fractures or pores, which must be interconnected to allow water, to flow through them very slowly. The more connected the pores are, the greater the permeability of the aquifer and the better the chances of yielding significant amounts of water.
Characteristics
The water discharged by the springs of Guácimo and Pococí is of very good natural quality. These springs supply water to a good part of the population of their respective cantons through urban and rural aqueducts administered by the AyA and local water management bodies called ASADAS.
The area has rocky mountains with significant value for water recharge, beautiful rivers and waterfalls that are used by residents and visitors for family recreation and leisure.
Boundaries
The Guácimo-Pococí Aquifer Protection Zone is bordered to the north by the Cordillera Volcánica Central Forest Reserve. Its irregular shape extends its area to several communities of Guápiles and Jiménez, including Buenos Aires, Bella Vista and Suerre, as well as Guácimo.
Key management elements of the Guácimo-Pococí Aquifer Protection Zone
Forest: It consists of a large expanse of forest south of the cantons of Guácimo and Pococí (93% primary forest), and contains three different life zones that cover more than 90% of its forested area. It also includes gallery forests and aquifer recharge zones.
Aquifers: The presence of high forest cover, high rainfall and high temperatures have allowed the formation of the Guácimo, Guápiles and Santa Clara aquifers. They are recharged by the direct infiltration of rainfall; the discharge of the aquifers is essential for the flow of the Guácimo, Jiménez and La Roca rivers.
Rivers: The most important rivers of the lowlands have their source here, including the Guácimo, Jiménez, Sucio, Elia and Toro Amarillo rivers. The waters that are discharged from the aquifers in the foothills of the mountains is vital to their flow.
For information, call: 2710-0600, ext.114
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