Patagonia is a geographical area in southern South America that is shared between two states: Chile and Argentina. In this article we will talk about the climate, economy, flora, fauna, as well as the landscapes of this unique and colorful area.
Marvelous Patagonia: photo and short description
Many in their adolescence were read by the adventure works of the writer Jules Verne. In particular, the novel "Children of Captain Grant", which mentions the amazing land of Patagonia. This is the territory of the endless South American steppes, over which the peaked peaks of the Andean mountains hang.
Patagonia is divided between two states - Chile and Argentina. Moreover, the nature of the Chilean Patagonia is in many ways different from the nature of its Argentine part. First of all, it concerns the features of the relief and climate.
Chilean Patagonia is the snow-capped peaks of high peaks, deep fjord bays, turbulent rivers and many waterfalls. But Patagonia of Argentina looks like a hilly area with rather sparse vegetation, dominated by strong and cold winds.
By the way, this part of the South American continent fell into the camera lenses of the popular British television program Top Gear (special issue "Patagonia", 2014). This time, James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond tested their cars on the roads of Pampas expanses.
Patagonia is ... Physical Geography and Borders
This is the only place on Earth where on the eastern shores of the continent you can see a real desert, outside the tropical zone. Where is Patagonia located? How do geographers draw its boundaries?
Patagonia is located in southern South America (south of the 40th parallel of the Southern Hemisphere). All this land is poorly populated and occupied by a monotonous hilly area, overgrown with rare thorny shrubs and grasses. In the east, Patagonia abruptly breaks into the cold waters of the Atlantic, and in the west it adjoins the slopes of the high Andean mountains.
Scientists often argue about where to draw the northern border of Patagonia. Many geographers believe that the Rio Colorado and Bio Bio rivers are the borders of this geographical area. In the south, the territory of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago is also sometimes assigned to Patagonia .
History and origin of the name
This land was first mentioned in the materials of round-the-world voyage of Fernand Magellan. In Patagonia, the expedition members met “unusually tall people” with a height of about 180 centimeters. Recall that in the Middle Ages, the average height of a European was only 1.55 meters. It was Magellan who called the local residents “patrons,” after which the whole territory was also designated by this name.
Until the end of the XIX century, these lands did not belong to anyone. Here lived the tribes of the Indians, who were significantly behind in development from the Europeans and other tribes that inhabited America. Later, migrants from Wales began to appear here, who established trade relations with local residents.
Starting from the middle of the XIX century, Chileans began to show interest in Patagonia. In 1848, they founded the port city of Punta Arenas to control the Strait of Magellan. In 1881, the leaders of two states (Chile and Argentina) decided to divide the sparsely populated territories of Patagonia among themselves. This process lasted almost a century. There were numerous disputes between countries regarding who should own this or that piece of land. These contradictions almost led to an armed conflict in 1978. However, the Pope intervened in the situation, forcing both countries to conclude an agreement on peace and friendship.
Patagonia relief features
Most of Patagonia is occupied by the Patagonian Plateau - monotonous, hilly and almost devoid of permanent watercourses. Geologically, it is composed of basalt and sedimentary rocks. The Precambrian foundation reaches the earth's surface only in the northern part of Patagonia.
In the orographic plan, the plateau is divided by canyons and hollows into separate table-shaped plateaus (elevations). Between them, scarce streams and streams sometimes flow.
The eastern coast of Patagonia is steep, and therefore inconvenient for the entry of large vessels. Rocky ledges on the shores of the Atlantic here sometimes reach one hundred meters in height. In the west, the Patagonian Plateau separates the basin from the Andes, which is occupied by moraine deposits and numerous lakes of glacial origin.
Climatic features
The climate of Patagonia is dry, despite the latitude. The fact is that all precipitation can come here from the Pacific Ocean. However, on the way along the western moist air masses are the high mountain ranges of the Andes, which take on almost all the moisture. On the other hand, off the eastern coast of Patagonia there is a cold Falkland Current, which only enhances the dry climate of the local area. In a year, Patagonia receives from 150 (in the east) to 400 (at the foot of the Andes) millimeters of rainfall.
Seasons vary significantly in different parts of Patagonia. So, in the north of the region, in the Rio Negro river valley, summers are quite hot, and in the south - cool. In winter, frosts up to -30 degrees can be observed throughout Patagonia.
Thus, the climate of Patagonia is unfavorable neither for people's lives, nor for active farming. Dryness, strong piercing winds, frequent snowstorms in winter - these are the main reasons why this area has remained sparsely populated for many centuries.
Flora and fauna of the region
Climatic conditions are not very conducive to the growth of vegetation in the region. There are practically no forests in Patagonia. Separate massifs are found only at the foot of the Andean Mountains, where there is a sufficient amount of precipitation. The rest of Patagonia are semi-desert territories occupied by rare cereals and hard shrubs.
The classic representatives of the Patagonian flora are the Argentine bluegrass, feather grass, fescue and fescue. Opuntia and various cacti are also found. To the south you can meet the fields of mosses and lichens. It is here that the zone of dry South American steppes passes into the tundra zone.
The wildlife of Patagonia is also extremely poor. Typical representatives of the local fauna are guanaco, nandu, hummingbird, puma, as well as the condor bird of prey. Flamingos and other species of waterfowl nest near the lakes. On the southern islands of Patagonia you can even see penguins.
The population, economy and development of the region
The average population density of Patagonia is very low - only 2 people per square kilometer of area. The settlements of the region are concentrated along the few river valleys.
The main sources of income for the local population are tourism and agriculture. In Patagonia, sheep are actively raised, the wool of which is sold very expensive here. In the past two decades, large entrepreneurs bought up old sheep breeding farms in Patagonia, and significantly modernized them. Crop production in the region is practically undeveloped due to large problems with land irrigation. The population of the coastal areas of Patagonia is also engaged in fishing from the ocean.
A rather important part of the local economy remains tourism. Moreover, it is more developed in the Chilean Patagonia. Within the Argentine part is the Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourism in Patagonia not only creates new jobs, but also supports the culture and crafts of the indigenous people - the Indians.
Conclusion
Patagonia is an unusual and colorful corner of our planet. Harsh and at the same time very beautiful land. Tourists come here to visit the Fitzroy National Park, to see with their own eyes the grandiose Perito Moreno Glacier, and also to swim on a cruise ship, contemplating the most beautiful cliffs and deep fjords.