Globerovers Magazine, July 2019

ARGENTINA
PATAGONIA
Southern right whales can be seen around Puerto Piramides and Puerto Madryn, Peninsula Valdés.
PENINSULA VALDEZ
Península Valdés is best known for its
protected marine animals.
One of the best areas to experience
wildlife in Argentina is
at Peninsula Valdés, a Patagonian
coastal nature reserve. Located in
the Argentinian Province of Chubut, the
peninsula is known for its conservation
of marine mammals with a large breeding
population of the endangered southern
right whale as well as active breeding
populations of southern elephant seals,
southern sea lions and thousands of nesting
Magellanic penguins.
One of the biggest attractions in this
area is observing the unique hunting
strategy of the killer whale or orcas—a
coordinated strategy to encircle and push
their prey into shallow waters where they
are devoured.
In addition to roughly 400 kilometres
(249 mi) of unspoiled shoreline, the mushroom-
shaped peninsula
also
boasts rocky
cliffs of up to
100 metres
(328 ft) high,
shallow bays, shifting coastal lagoons with
extensive mudflats, pebble beaches, large
sand dunes, and a few small islands.
The land ecosystem is dominated by
the Patagonian Desert Steppe with herds
of guanacos, one of South America’s native
camelid species and cousin of the llama.
You may also get to see the Patagonian
mara, a rodent endemic to Argentina, and
plenty of birds including the migratory
snowy sheathbill, white-headed steamer
duck and the ostrich-like flightless lesser
rhea.
Patagonia’s Peninsula Valdés is home to an active breeding
population of endangered southern right whales,
southern elephant seals, and southern sea lions.
Punta
Pirámides
is famous for
its sea-lion
rookery and cormorants
that can be viewed from the cliffs
high above.
While you may need a few weeks to
see all the animals that make their home
22 Globerovers · July 2019