In the Province of Santa Cruz, at the south-western part of the continent we find the The Glaciers National Park (“Los Glaciares”): a complex and huge system of glaciers, which together consist of the biggest potable water reservoir on earth.
The Glaciers
The most popular tourist attraction in this region is the incredible “Perito Moreno” glacier, located in “Los Glaciares” National Park. The town itself is located on beautiful Lake Argentino, which is filled by the runoff from a number of glaciers. This area contains one of the largest water reserves in the world known as the Patagonian Continental Ice Cap. While there are a number of Glaciers in the area, “Perito Moreno” is the unchallenged star of the lot. This is largely due to its close proximity to the town and the fact that it is accessible by car. The view is incredible as it is possible to watch the glacier breaking off mammoth chunks of ice that crash into the frigid water below. A tour to “Perito Moreno” includes a scenic walk along safely constructed footbridges and for those in search of something more adventurous, a mini-trek on the glacier itself. While “Perito Moreno” is definitely the star, the supporting cast should really not be ignored. Several lake-tours are offered to visit the spectacular glacier “Upsala”, with ice flows barrier, the Onelli area and the Spegazzini and Seco.
To access to this area we stop in the village of El Calafate, a typical tourist seasonal town, which bears the name of a local wild fruit similar to the blueberry. You will be certain to be told, “He who eats the Calafate will come back” and it is highly recommended that you try it because you will certainly want to return to this beautiful area of Patagonia.
Province of Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago of islands covered with woods and is sparsely populated. It is more than 3.000 KM South from Buenos Aires, passing the Strait of Magellan and bordering with the Beagle Channel. In these extreme latitudes nature is at its utmost purity and the visitor can feel the ocean, the channels and fjords, the mountains and steppes, and observe the rich fauna of birds and marine mammals.
Ushuaia: A Trip To The End Of The World
Ushuaia is the worlds southernmost city, located in the Province of Tierra del Fuego on an island in an archipelago of forested islands. The development of the city has been largely due to a perceived Argentine necessity to consolidate their presence in the territory. In the first stage, the city grew up around a high security prison; when this closed its doors to prisoners the national state promoted a series of laws to encourage factories to move their operations and gave high salary incentives and benefits to the workers.
Ushuaia is now a charming tourist city, the area is full of fjords, channels, forests, steppes and a multitude of sea birds. The options for visitors to the region include the Tierra del Fuego National Park, “Lapataia” Bay, Lake “Fagnano”, the Train to the End of the World, and the Beagle Channel. The port serves for cruise ships, Antarctic ships and fishing vessels often overflowing with spider crabs. Tourist tours across the Beagle Channel offer beautiful views of the channel, “Les Eclaireurs” Lighthouse and small rocky islands whose only inhabitants are seals and sea birds.
