Categorized under IUCN Category IV, it is primarily for the protection of birds that inhabit the different lagoons in the reserve.

[2][4] The reserve's major attractions are erupting volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, lakes, fumaroles, mountains and its three endemic species of flamingos in particular.

[citation needed] The basin features depict active volcanoes, hot springs, geysers and fumaroles, and a parallel has been drawn with the Yellowstone National Park in the US.

[6] The lake is very shallow, less than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) deep, and supports some 40 bird species, providing pink algae to population of rare James's flamingoes who can walk across it.

[6][10] An unusual natural feature of attraction (much photographed) in the reserve is an isolated rock formation projecting out of the sand dunes of Siloli at a place known as Árbol de Piedra.

[1] Near Quetena Chico, there are some archaeological remains, jaranas (stone huts), tambos (trail markers), rock paintings, and a ceremonial site lying in a depression between two volcanoes.

The most important income generating activity for the two local communities has been camelid farming, selling llama wool and meat.

Mining is a major industry in and around the reserve, rich in natural resources of veins of lead, zinc and silver.

[3] The reserve in the Andean has vegetation consisting of tropical alpine herbs with dwarf shrubs of the forests of Polylepis.

The important plant species on which people are dependent for fuel wood in the area is yareta, which grows in the forest of the reserve at 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) per year amidst rocky terrain.

[3][5] In places with higher humidity, Tola or Thola (Parastrephia lepidophylla), Quinoa and Kenua bush tree are found.

The reserve is habitat for ten reptile species (including two lizards of the genus Liolaemus), amphibians and fish.

[2] In addition, the reserve is also the habitat for 80 more species of birds, which include the falcons, ducks, lesser rhea (Pterocnemia pennata), puna tinamou (Tinamotis pentlandii) and Andean goose (Chloephaga melanoptera).

[3][5] The Conservancy and the Bolivian National Protected Areas Service (SERNAP) has the onus for operating and maintaining the reserve with its trained 14 park guards who are provided with patrol vehicles and two-way radios.