Tierra del Fuego National Park
Located in southwestern Tierra del Fuego province, over
the borderline with Chile, this National Park is the southernmost
example of the Andean - Patagonian forest. It was created
in 1960 and has a surface of 63.000 hectares.
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 In
this area the final part of the Andes features a northwest - southeast
orientation. The peaks alternate with valleys where there are rivers
and glacial originated lakes. Two types of forests predominate here:
those of Lenga and Guindo trees, with an open underwood mainly consisting
of moss and fern.
In the spaces within the forests there is plenty of peat in very
humid, flooded areas where the sphagnum moss grows.
On the sea shore, the two great bays (Lapataia and Ensenada) deploy
in gorges and beaches that are full of white cauquenes. There are
also black eyebrowed albatross (over two meters long) who cohabit
with the steam duck and the diving petrel. There is also a rare
kind of otter named chungungo.
Other species are the guanaco and a particular Tierra del Fuego
variety of red fox. The Canadian beaver, an introduced species,
has caused a great environmental impact because it cuts down trees
in order to build dams which, in turn, provoke floods in certain
parts of the forest where the trees also die as a consequence of
the excess of water.
A bit of history
The primitive inhabitants of this region were the yámanas
aborigines who lived in
huts at the Lapataia Bay area. Their food was mainly seafood. Nowadays
it is possible to spot the "concheros", circles where
mollusks accumulated meaning that there were settlements around.
How to get here?
Access to this Park is via National Route 3, 11 Km. to the west
of the city of Ushuaia.
Many daily flights connect with Buenos Aires, in 3 and a half hours
flights.
Where to stay?
Inside the National Park there is an organized campsite, near Lake
Roca, as well as many free camping areas. But the ideal place is
the city of Ushuaia itself, which features great tourist services
suitable for different budgets.
Sightseeing - Activities
There are many trekking paths inside the Park, that can be easily
followed:
Black Lagoon: Only 400 m. from Route 3 you arrive to this
lagoon, which is dark colored due to the presence of peat.
The Island: it consists of 800 m. along the coasts of rivers
Lapataia and Ovando, over archipelago Cormoranes.
The Lookout Point: From route 3 you directly access Lapataia
Bay, walking along a lengas wood. From there you get to the lookout
point which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the bay.
Meet the beavers: After some 400 m. up to Los Castores stream,
you will be able to observe the dams system these incredible animals
have built, as well as the environmental impact it causes.
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