National Park of Fire Land
Tierra del Fuego is a national park in Argentina, established in 1960. The territory occupied by the park is 630 km2. The first park in Argentina is located in the south of the country. This area was discovered back in 1520, when Fernand Magellan sailed here, after seeing a large number of bonfires on the island, it was decided to name the archipelago Tierra del Fuego.
The history of the discovery of Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego Archipelago, located in the South Atlantic Ocean, was discovered in 1520 by Portuguese navigator Fernand Magellan during his voyage around the world. He named it "Tierra del Fuego" because of the bonfires he saw on the shores, created by local residents for heating and cooking. Later, the archipelago got its modern name.
Tierra del Fuego consists of several islands, including Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) and the Malvinas Islands. Over the next centuries, the archipelago was explored and used by different nationalities for various purposes, from scientific research to fishing and oil production.
Due to its strategic location, Tierra del Fuego has played an important role in the history of navigation and trade between Europe and South America. It served as a key stopping point for ships crossing the Strait of Magellan, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Having visited in his youth, Charles Darwin was impressed by the landscapes of the island and the harsh image of the Indians. The first people in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago appeared about 10,000 years ago and used all the island's opportunities quite effectively, as evidenced by the ethnic diversity of the inhabitants. The Indians built their huts from trunks and branches on the shores of the islands, collected mollusks, hunted seals from which they later made clothes. The Indians settled in this place, although the conditions here are not the most favorable, in January the average temperature here is +15 ° C, and in July it is about +5 ° C. But what nature could do, the Europeans did in the 1880s, and the ranks of the Indians decreased significantly due to diseases brought from Europe, but no less important was the desire to practice shooting at people, as well as poisoning the indigenous population so that they could hunt seals more freely.
Flora and fauna of Tierra del Fuego Park
Tierra del Fuego National Park has dense forests, mostly shrubs are found at high altitudes, and peat bogs are also present in the local terrain. Rare plants in the national park include cherries, Chilean beech and brown wood. There are also white and green orchids, immortelles, daisies and yellow violets. The animal world is not particularly rich and is represented by 20 mammals and about 90 species of birds. Among the habitats, it is worth noting the fox, guanaco, boron, condor, as well as rare black-headed albatrosses off the Atlantic coast.
Tourists who have visited Tierra del Fuego get the impression that they have seen the edge of the world, such feelings are inspired by the pristine nature and proximity to Antarctica. Unforgettable feelings remain after walking on glaciers and lakes and for walks. There is a place in the park for fishermen and for hikers who do not like to walk, they can use a horse or even a motorcycle. For tourists, there are several routes that will allow you to enjoy the picturesque landscapes of nature. There are also short kilometer-long routes along the barega of the Lapataya River past the Black Bay, whose water is very dark due to peat at the bottom.
