Tierra del Fuego National Park
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Tierra del Fuego National Park
Located at the end of the world, protecting the sheer beauty and magnificent landscapes, Tierra del Fuego National Park is one of the most unique places on earth. Created in 1960, this 63,000 hectare park is a wonderful place to observe and explore the Andean-Patagonian forest. The area is actually a large island, owned partially by Argentina and partially by Chile. The two great bays are lined with small beaches, and rugged mountains and valleys — created by glacial erosion — serve as a beautiful backdrop.
The park sits at the southernmost tip of the South American continent, reaching over the Chilean border. There are two main types of forest in the park, as well as Andean peaks and valley through which sparkle energetic rivers and glacial originated lakes. The two forests are lenga and guindo, and both have an underwood of mostly moss and fern.
On the coast, along the seashore, there are two great bays — Lapataia and Ensenada — with a variety of animal life. Their gorges and beaches are filled with white cauquens, a type of seaside bird. Black eyebrowed albatross also populate the area, and grow to over two meters in wingspan. The steam duck and diving petrel are also common birds, and a rare type of otter called the chungungo also calls this area home.
The guanaco, typical and unique to South America, is another animal regularly found here, as is a special type of red fox. The Canadian beaver was introduced to the area, and has had quite a negative impact, as it not only destroys trees by cutting them down, but the dams they create often cause flooding which, in turn, kills other trees with the excess water.
Other animals include sea lions, owls, condors, kingfishers, seagulls and beautiful little firecrown hummingbirds. You can also find world-class trout fishing here.
There are still traces of the primitive inhabitants of the area, known as the yámanas, who lived around Lapataia Bay. As they ate mostly seafood, their dieting patterns had an affect on the marine life, and today you can find concheros, which are circles where mollusks accumulated, marking the settlement areas.
Park access can be found 11 km to the west of Ushuaia, the area’s largest and best-known city. There is organized camping within the park, but many visitors opt to stay in Ushuaia. See this Argentina Travel Guide for more information on Ushuaia and Patagonia.
Once inside the park, there are many options to explore. The Black Lagoon has a path around it, and it’s a mere 400 meters from the entrance to the park. It is called such because of its dark color, which is caused by the presence of peat. Peat is the accumulation of vegetation matter, and is often found in swamps and bogs.
There is a spectacular lookout point (called The Lookout), walking through a lenga forest to Lapataia Bay. It offers beautiful panoramic views of the bay and surrounding areas.
If you walk about 400 meters up to Los Castores stream, you will be able to see some of the powerful dams the beavers have built, as well as the environmental impact they have.
The De la Isla path is an 800 meter walk around the Cormoranes archipelago, which goes around the shores of both Lapataia and Ovando bays.
The average rainfall in the area is 700mm per year, with no dry season. As it is truly at the end of the world, be prepared — temperatures average about 0ºC during the winter and only 10ºC in the summer.
The park costs AR$ 50 for foreigners, and AR$ 10 for Argentines, and the entry is valid for two days. When paying the fee, you can receive more information about the park or ask any questions you may have.