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About Patagonia
Patagonia is the
region situated in the southern extreme of the American Continent. It
embraces Argentina and Chile.
The Argentinean
Patagonia covers an area of 300,000 sq. mi. (777,000 sq. km.) stretching
from the Colorado River (40 S) to Tierra del Fuego (plus some islands of the
South Atlantic and Argentinean Antartica), and from the Andes to the
Atlantic Ocean. This region is sparsely populated having approximately 1.5
people per sq. km.
The Chilean
Patagonia extends from Golfo Corcovado at 44 S to Cape Horn in the
south. It includes the regions of Aisén (XI region) to the North, and of
Magallanes and Antártica Chilena (XII region) to the South.
In the southern
area of Chile, between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, there is a vast
archipelago formed by numerous islands and islets of various sizes, fjords
and channels that extend towards different directions.
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| The Patagonian Andes is a beautiful
region with volcanoes, numerous crystal green lakes and dense forests. The Southern area
is marked by thousands of majestic glaciers, one of which is still progressing. |
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On the eastern side of the country, in the Patagonian
tablelands, the terrain consists of horizontal plateaus, divided by long rivers which
descend from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. These plateaus are rich with
marine fossils, dinosaur remains, as well as petrified forests and prehistoric art. |
Temperate climatic conditions prevail, though temperatures
can be extremely low in the higher Andes and further south.
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In the western section of Patagonia, winds are
strong to moderate, and precipitation is abundant. A climate which results in the growth
of conifers, such as firs, cypresses, pines and cedars. The windswept plateaus, however,
are semiarid, with steppes covered by herbs, shrubs and grasses. These natural grasslands
are optimum for raising livestock, particularly of sheep, which comprises the traditional
form of livelihood for many of Patagonia’s residents. |
              
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