Ischigualasto National Park
Ichigualasto Park is a nature conservation area located in the northwestern part of Argentina, in the small provincial town of San Juan. This park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and if you translate its name into the local Indian language, it means "Moon Valley", and it is often referred to by the people as "The place where the Moon rests."
The Ichigualasto Provincial Park covers an area of 600 km2. It rises 1300 m above the ocean level. The park is characterized by desert vegetation, so there are many cacti and stunted trees growing on its territory. Due to the arid climatic conditions, rains in the valley occur mainly in the summer.
The Ichigualasto landscape
But the territory of the Moon Valley was not always arid. It is known that 200 million years ago, there was a river here that dried up due to climatic changes. Visiting the moon valley, it is impossible not to be surprised by the quirkiness of its relief. During sunset, the multiple broken lines and angles of the Ischigualasto landscape acquire extraordinary beauty, making the park resemble the lunar surface.
Special attention should be paid to the site, where there are many unusual stone blocks in the shape of balls. This area is called the "Ball Area". All the balls have a diameter of 50 cm to 70 cm, but the most interesting thing is that even scientists cannot explain the origin of these stone formations. In addition, the birth of new balls has been repeatedly noticed here, while the old ones are destroyed over time. There is a theory that the origin of the balls is related to the soil depths. It is believed that in some way still unknown to science, they are overgrown with rock, which over time acquires a solid state. But there is still no answer to what exactly the rock can stick to and how the balls end up in the valley.
Archaeological finds
During archaeological excavations, rock inscriptions, drawings and fossilized skeletons of dinosaurs that inhabited this area millions of years ago were found in the valley. At the same time, paleontologists have made a statement that some of the dinosaur species existed exclusively here. It was in Ichigualasto that the remains of a raptor, which was 1 meter in size, were once found. In total, 50 different types of reptilian remains were found in the valley.
A museum has been created in the Moon Valley, where tourists can see models of many dinosaurs. However, it can only be visited during a guided tour and accompanied by a local guide. Many who have visited Ichigualasto Park recommend going to see its beauty on a full moon. It is at this moment that you can see all its beauty and feel like a real astronaut who takes a walk on the moon.
