Traditional handmade clothes

Patagonia is famous for housing a great variety of wildlife, unspoiled nature and ancient indian cultures. Archaeological findings date back to 8,000 B.C., from Pre-Columbian civilizations to the skilled Mapuche indians known for mastery in weapons making and agriculture of the 16th century. But Patagonia is not only an open air archaeological gallery, it also bears the Andes mountains, one of the longest rock formations on Earth and, amid it, the famous touristic destination and trekking paradise of Torres del Paine National Park in the Cordillera del Paine mountain chain.

(H2) History of the National Park

And if those are the questions, what follows is usually some supplementary concern: “Ah, but I don’t like camping..” or “It’s too far away!”. It seems that the destination is a mystery, too “tough” or tricky for the average traveler. Not really. Torres del Paine is a very adaptable destination and very rewarding for any kind of adventure for any type of adventurer.

Often, travelers have the same questions about Torres del Paine: - but how does it “work” there? Is it mainly for backpackers? What has to be seen? It’s... in Patagonia, right?

Established in 1959 and part of the 11 protected areas of the Magallanes Region (named after Ferdinand Magellan) and Chilean Antarctica, the park is located 112 km north of Puerto Natales and 312km north of Punta Arenas. It borders Bernardo O’Higgins National Park to the west and Los Glaciares National Park to the north in Argentina and measures about 240,000 hectares. With over 150,000 tourists every year, 60% of which are foreign, Torres del Paine is one of the largest and most visited parks in Chile.

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From flatlands and turquoise lakes to huge sedimentary rocks

Nevertheless, recent paleoenvironmental studies performed within the Park indicate that fires have been frequent phenomena at least during the last 12,800 years. The real problem is the recovery of these areas, Native forest regrow very slowly only after approximately 200 years.

Revitalising scorched areas is therefore not just a matter of replanting small trees, but also providing them with the required growing conditions. Wildlife living in the park are also affected by the fires, causing them to move to different habitats in search of food and shelter.

(H3) Fauna and Flora

  1. The flora and fauna of the Torres del Paine Park is a treasure coveted by documentalists and photographers from around the world. As a tourist, you will also have the opportunity to observe them within a close proximity.
  2. However, as indicated by CONAF (National Forestry Corporation), one must always bear in mind the unpredictability of nature and the potential risks associated with direct contact with nature. Therefore, always remember to respect the trails of the park and never leave your garbage behind.
  3. You will also have a glimpse of their Patagonian Steppe made of desert shrubs and tuft grasses resistant to harsh winds & weather and also the Pre-Andean Shrubland that consists in evergreen shrubs like the edible Calafate. The story goes that once you eat the Calafate Berry, you will be destined to return to Patagonia.

(H2) Wildfires and low precipitation

  • The rainiest months are March and April, with a monthly average rainfall of 80mm. This dry weather mixed with its flora made mostly by Fescue species (evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses), which are resistant to harsh winds and weather conditions that are typical of the Patagonian region, but not green and humid enough to avoid being so fire prone.
  • In 1985, a japanese tourist started a fire that burned about 150 mk² of the park after throwing a lit cigarette butt on the ground. The blaze affected the areas east and south around Lake Pehoé. Not much later, 20 years before the first registered fire after the area became a park, an accidental fire started by a Czech backpacker, which lasted for about ten days, destroyed 155 km² including about 2 km² of native forest.

Established in 1959 and part of the 11 protected areas of the Magallanes Region (named after Ferdinand Magellan) and Chilean Antarctica, the park is located 112 km north of Puerto Natales and 312km north of Punta Arenas. It borders Bernardo O’Higgins National Park to the west and Los Glaciares National Park to the north in Argentina and measures about 240,000 hectares. With over 150,000 tourists every year, 60% of which are foreign, Torres del Paine is one of the largest and most visited parks in Chile.

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