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TIERRA
DEL FUEGO NATIONAL PARK
Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Is. del Atlántico
Sur
This park was set up
in 1960 and contains a representative sample of the southernmost patagonian
andes woods, bordering on the Beagle Chanel.
It covers an area of 63,000 hectares and is located in the southwest corner
of the province of Tierra del Fuego .
NATURAL
ASPECTS
The mountainous landscape presents glacial features where deep valleys
with lakes and rivers are divided by high mountain ridges, all oriented
in a NW-SE direction. The southern border gives onto Lapataia and Ensenada
bays with steep shores and placid beaches, ideal habitat for coastal birds.
The area is dominated by two types of woods: deciduous lenga (Nothofagus
pumilio) and evergreen guindo (N. betuloides), the latter in the damper
areas and on the coast. The understorey is open with an abundance of mosses
and ferns. Orchids, Berberis with their yellow flowers and puffballs are
to be found in spring. Between the woods in the valley bottoms are extensive
peat-bogs, dominated by Sphagnum. On the edges are reeds, insectivorous
sundews and small specimens of the ñire tree (N. antarctica).
Birds are varied and easy to see. On the shores magellanic oystercatchers,
kelp geese, crested ducks and flightless steamer ducks, while out over
the water black-browed albatrosses on their six-foot wingspan glide by,
or tiny diving-petrels pop in and out of the waves and ripples. Other
birds which are found in the park are the great grebe which prefers the
tranquil bays, upland and ashy-headed sheld-geese on the lawn-like grasses
or the magellanic woodpecker in the dense woods.
Among the mammals are the guanaco, the large local red fox endemic to
this island. On the shore the rare magellanic sea otter has been reported
occasionally.
Introduced (exotic) species include the rabbit, the musk rat, beavers,
this last causing much damage to the woods with its felling of trees,
flooding large areas where the trees are "drowned". The sea-shore
is home to mussels and other shell-fish.
CULTURAL
ASPECTS
Piles of mussel shells overgrown with short grasses are the remains of
ancient middens, near the shore, where the Yamana Indians had their primitive
shelters. They were canoe indians living from the sea.
Research has dated a site on Salmon Island at 250 AD.
HOW
TO GET THERE
The park is at the end of route 3, 11 km west of the town of Ushuaia.
One can also reach Ushuaia by 'plane or by sea.
OF
INTEREST FOR THE VISITOR
Park
HQ are in the town of Ushuaia.
Within the park there is an organised campsite at Lago Roca and various
areas where it is free: Lapataia, Ensenada bay, Pipo river, etc.
There are several short trails off route 3:
* Paseo de la Isla - 800 metres over the Cormoranes archipelago, along
the shores of Lapataia river;
* to Laguna Negra: 400 metres to the peat-bog lake with its characteristic
dark-stained water;
* to the lookout (Mirador): 500 m to a lookout over Lapataia bay through
lenga woods
* Paseo del Turbal (Peat-bog): 400 m through lenga woods, past an abandoned
beaver dam.
* To a beaver dam (Castorera): 400 m to a beaver dam to see the series
of ponds created by these rodents on arroyo los Castores. Here one can
clearly see the damage caused by this exotic species.
* Pampa Alta trail: this connects the río Pipo and Ensenada campsites,
through Lenga and guindo woods. From Pampa Alta there is a panoramic view
of the Beagle Channel. Somewhat tiring, it is 5 km long.
* Coastal trail: from Ensenada to the Lapataia area, not too difficult,
8 km long;
* Trail to Hito (Border marker) XXIV: along the north shore of Lago Roca
of glacial origin: 10 km, fairly easy.
* Trail up Cerro Guanaco (970 metres above sea level) along a steep path,
a tiring 8 km walk.
Thanks to APN - Administración
de Parques Nacionales
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