Hello friends! Ready for another adventure? I hope so because today we are going on a trip to Patagonia, one of the most beautiful places in all of South America!
If you want to learn more about Patagonia don’t forget to download our activity package:
Click here to download our Patagonia learning guide (English)
Click here to download our Patagonia flashcards (English)
Click here to download our Patagonia quiz (English)
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Click here to download our Patagonia learning guide (Spanish)
Click here to download our Patagonia flashcards (Spanish)
Click here to download our Patagonia quiz (Spanish)
Where is Patagonia Located
Patagonia is a geographic region located in the extreme south of the Southern Cone of America and is part of the Argentinian and Chilean territories.
The Argentine side has arid steppes, grasslands, and deserts, while the Chilean side has glacial fjords and temperate rainforests.
The word Patagonia comes from Patagones, which is the name that the Europeans gave to the aboriginal people they found in these lands.
Patagonia is one of the most beautiful places in Argentine geography and it is impossible not to be speechless when you see this place. Let’s talk a little more about the wonders you can find here.
The wonders you can find at Patagonia
And what better way to start than talking about the Chubut River? One of the Patagonian provinces of Argentina, Chubut takes its name from this beautiful river that crosses several regions and towns on its route of more than 497 miles (800 km) to its mouth in the Atlantic Sea, in southern Argentina.
As you can imagine, the river travels a very long distance, but it is accompanied by a great variety of different and beautiful landscapes that make up the beautiful region of Patagonia.
But maybe you want to admire Patagonia from a higher point. In that case, visiting Cerro Bayo is the best option. This mountain is only 15 minutes from the city of Villa Angostura, and it is the closest ski center to an Argentine city. Without a doubt a place that you must see in Patagonia. Especially during the winter months when it gets covered in white, imposing all its beauty.
Even if you visit this place in the summer you can also practice a little skiing. Of course, there is not as much snow as in winter but you can still ski a little in the middle of the Andean forests.
And speaking of snow, we cannot forget the huge Perito Moreno Glacier. The city of El Calafate, Santa Cruz province, is perhaps the best-known landscape in Argentine Patagonia. The Perito Moreno Glacier which is located in Los Glaciares National Park has become the largest glacier in the park and continues to grow day after day.
But you may wonder “what is a glacier?” A glacier is a huge mound of snow and ice that floats on very cold water. Glaciers are formed by compacting snow that falls from the top of mountains. And this glacier is located right next to the Andes mountain range, which allows it to grow daily, about two meters by day! That’s a lot of ice!
By the way, did you know that one of the largest peaks in the world is located in the Andes mountain range? That’s right, Mount Aconcagua. It is about 22,837 ft (6, 960 meters) high, making it the highest mountain in South America!
The town of Bariloche
After a long day of adventure, what’s better than relaxing in a cozy place? And there is probably a no better place than the town of Bariloche. During the Argentine winter, this small town becomes one of the most attractive places for winter sports lovers. You can find not only beautiful places to ski and snowboard but also many comfortable places to relax after exploring.
The wildlife in Patagonia
Now let’s talk a little about the wildlife in Patagonia!
First, we must mention that Patagonia is divided into two large regions: the continental or Andean-Patagonian region and the littoral or coastal zone.
In the continental region, it is common to find deer such as the huemul and pudu, cougars, Patagonian hares, guanacos, foxes, condors, black-necked swans, and rheas.
While in the littoral region you can find sea lions and elephant seals, Patagonian penguins, dolphins, cormorants, and right whales.
Route 40
Finally, we cannot forget to mention the famous Route 40. It is an extensive highway that crosses Argentina from north to south. In any of its sections, you will find breathtaking landscapes such as Mount Fitz Roy and the Perito Moreno Glacier.
If you want to know a little more about this beautiful wonder of South America, I recommend that you take this route. I bet it will be a tour that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Well, friends, that’s just a little bit of what you can find in Patagonia. Remember that if you want to visit it in the winter, you must go between June and August.
Ciao friends!
