Tierra del Fuego National Park
Located in southwestern Tierra del Fuego province,over the borderline with Chile, this national park is the southermost example of the Andean- patagonian forest. It was created in 1960 and has a surface of 63.000 hectares. Situated south of the Magellan Strait, Tierra del Fuego is the archipielago’s largest island.
Usuahia is the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego, Anctarctica and South Atlantic Islands.In this area the peaks alternate with the valleys where there are rivers and glacial originated lakes.
The average temperature in winter is –2 degreesC and in summer reaches a maximum temperature of 30 degrees C.
A small train takes you to the gates of the Tierra del Fuego national park,with diverse species of flora and fauna. The park is home to red foxes,guanacos,beavers and condors. In excursions along the Beagle Channel you can see seals, magellan penguins and cormorants.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.
The island is a nature preserve that has been open to tourism only for a short time. It is a place almost untouched by human hand. After arriving via national route 3, you can walk along coastal paths. This trek lasts about 2!/2 hours and goes through the most beautiful parts of the park. The vegetation is abundant and includes conifers (lengas,ñires,coihues), notros (a native shrub), orchids and cinnamon trees.
One of the endangered species is the Huiña Cat which is similar to a wild one although smaller and dark. Its coat has abundant black round spots. It is 66 to 72 cm. long and its weight is of 2 to 3 kilograms. It is solitary, agile,quick, cautious and excellent climber. Its natural enemies are the puma and the red fox
The national parks administration has many programmes to prevent damage on endangered species.
We can protect endangered species by not buying skins or other products derived from them. We shouldn´t pollute the water these animal drink, nor cut down forests which are their natural habitat.
By: Pablo Cavallo,Teofilo Moreno,
Santiago Pasman,Bautista Peryra Iraola