Southern Most

Last week I showed you the latest collection by Brazilian designer Pedro Lourenço, which was inspired by the landscape of Patagonia. Two days after that post a friend of mine was telling me her family was on their way there so I decided to dig a little deeper into the part where the American continent ends...

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This part of the world is a shared region between Argentina and Chile extends from the southern section of the Andes towards the Pacific Ocean through valleys and mountains and includes the territory of Valdivia all the way through the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego.

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The weather in the region is cool and dry even in the summer time {which coincides with the Winter in the Northern Hemisphere} where temperatures rarely go beyond 70F and the winds are strong. Unfortunately, the depletion of the ozone layer has been linked with changes in the weather and to those traveling to this area it is highly recommended to use UV safe sunglasses and lots of sunscreen.

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Some of the most famous inhabitants of this region are the Magellanic Penguin along with the southern right whale, the orca and the elephant seals. You can see the penguins during the Spring {September through Mid-March but the best month is November} time when they come to breed every year. Unfortunately, many of these species are in danger of extinction due to oil spills in the area which cause starvation and intoxication in them every year.

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One of the most amazing sites to visit in this region is the glacier called Perito Moreno. This glacier is located in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field which is the the third largest reserve of fresh water in the world and curiously it is one of the few glaciers in the world that is growing instead of shrinking. 

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Traveling there is an extraordinary experience because the area is vast and full of many natural attractions sure to amaze even those city lovers {like yours truly}. Hotels in the are offer transportation to the local airports and many tourists rent cars that take them trough rural and main roads that cross forests and large valleys surrounded by mountains. Here are a few hotel suggestions:

Eolo Patagonia Hotel

Los Cerros en El Chalten Hotel

Remota Hotel, Puerto Natales {Image Credit}

Have a great day and hope you're planning a little vacation time!