A remote Bolivian plateau inspired a literary classic and hides a fragile ecological history.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, a vast mosaic of Amazonian rainforest and cerrado savanna, holds more than just biodiversity. Its dramatic Huanchaca Plateau once captivated Arthur Conan Doyle, serving as the inspiration for The Lost World. Today, this World Heritage Site reveals how ancient climate shifts shaped its landscape.

Located in northeast Bolivia along the Brazilian border, the park spans over 1.5 million hectares. Its centerpiece, the Huanchaca Plateau, is a massive tableland of Precambrian sandstone rising hundreds of meters above the surrounding plains. This rugged terrain, explored by Percy Fawcett in 1908, features spectacular waterfalls like the 88-meter Arcoiris Falls. The area’s unique geography creates a transition zone where diverse habitats—from evergreen forests to flooded savannas—coexist, supporting a rich array of life including 620 bird species and numerous large vertebrates like jaguars and giant anteaters.

The park’s current lush appearance is a relatively recent development. Scientific analysis of pollen cores and soil charcoal indicates that for tens of thousands of years, the region was dominated by savanna. Only within the last two to three millennia did evergreen rainforests expand into these areas. This transition is attributed to changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and shifts in precipitation patterns driven by the Milankovitch cycles. The park serves as a living record of how orbital mechanics and climate fluctuations dictate the distribution of biomes.

This ecological balance remains precarious. Climate change models suggest that a drier future could reverse the rainforest expansion, potentially forcing species to retreat. However, the park’s landscape corridors offer a level of resilience not found elsewhere in Bolivia. The site is named for Noel Kempff Mercado, a pioneering biologist who was killed there in 1988 by drug traffickers. His legacy endures through the park’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which protects its vital role as a refuge for globally threatened species and a critical site for understanding long-term environmental change.

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