In the far South, there is Patagonia. From the Colorado River (36° South) to the South of Tierra del Fuego, this vast region captivates the traveler with its endless horizon, inviting him to wander through its fascinating landscapes.
The geography of the Patagonian coast is impressive and diverse, represented by a numerous bays, gulfs, capes, long sandy beaches, sharp cliffs and rocky formations. The marine coastal fauna is enormously rich: large seabird colonies (cormorants, sterns, penguins, petrels, albatrosses) share their habitat with sea lions, fur seals, and elephant seals. Several cetacean species, such as southern right whales, orcas, and dusky and commersons dolphins also frequent this abundant area. The ocean color, the beautiful shores, and the amazing marine wildlife are perfectly combined, offering the visitor a marvelous natural spectacle.
Starting at the Atlantic Coast and stretching to the West we find the steppe. This extensive, seemingly infinite arid plain is covered by stone and sand, occasionally spattered with huge plateaus that break up the landscapes apparent monotony. Bushes and shrubs are home to a rich fauna. Guanacos and rheas are usually spotted first. Upon closer inspection, it is possible to admire other native species, such as the Patagonian hare, armadillos, gray and red foxes, eagles, and a large variety of amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. This land is also the scene of important paleontological discoveries that remind us of the fascinating time this area was inhabited by numerous species of dinosaurs.
Continuing west, we see the land rising towards the peaks of the Andean Mountains. Rain becomes frequent and the landscape turns greener. Forests, wetlands, mountains, lakes and glaciers combine and produce a scene of breathtaking beauty. Abundant Nothofagus forests coexist with a scatter of Valdivian forest, the only temperate rainforest in South America. This region hosts endangered conifers that are found nowhere else on Earth, such as the araucaria or monkey puzzle tree, and the alerce, one of the worlds largest trees. The Patagonian Andes are home to remarkable animal species such as pumas, river otters, two native deer species (huemul - or Andean deer -; and pudu - the worlds smallest deer -), a wide variety of rodents, amphibians and invertebrates, and birds such as the Patagonia woodpecker (South Americas largest woodpecker) and the majestic sentinel of the Andes, the condor.
Both the Patagonian forests and the steppe have been considered by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as outstanding ecoregions of high priority for the conservation of biological diversity worldwide. The region also contains several important protected areas, such as the large National Parks of Los Glaciares, Los Alerces, Lanín, Nahuel Huapi, and Tierra del Fuego.
Throughout history, Patagonia has witnessed the development of several indigenous groups whose origins go back approximately ten thousand years. Since the arrival of the first white men at the beginning of the sixteenth century, this region has captivated pioneers, travelers, and naturalists like Alcide DOrbigny, Charles Darwin, George Chaworth Musters, Luis Piedra Buena, Ramón Lista, Carlos María Moyano, Francisco Pascasio Moreno, and Guillermo Enrique Hudson, who bequeathed us interesting studies and fascinating stories.
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