Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine is a national park located in Patagonia, on the territory of Chile. It is very popular among tourists, as its vast landscapes have no equal on the whole planet. There are incomparable mountain peaks of peaks that belong to the Andes Mountains. In translation, the name of the park means "Tower of blue color". The Torres del Paine National Nature Reserve was founded in 1959.
Since 1978, it has been part of UNESCO and is considered a biosphere reserve. Its area is 2,420 km2, which includes a variety of mountain peaks with huge glaciers, numerous bays and lakes. In the middle of the reserve there are three peaks from 2,600 to 2,850 m. its height, which is its main attraction. The highest mountain that is included in the park area is Pine Grande with its peak at 3,050 meters. Nearby the mountains is Lake Nordenskiold, which is named after its explorer. The weather conditions in the park are unpredictable, and even in the middle of summer it can snow, which immediately turns into rain. The air temperature in summer is close to 11 °C, and in winter it is about 1 °C. Hurricane–force winds are a common occurrence in protected areas.
The formation of Torres del Paine does not depend on the mountain ranges of the Andes. Millions of years ago, there was a huge eruption of magma from under the earth's crust, which laid the foundation for the mountainous area in the middle of the park.
All visitors to the reserve must be photographed against the background of the most popular peaks, which were mentioned in the text above, with the names "Los Cuernos" and "Las Torres" (towers). Their unusual shape is formed under the influence of glaciers, as well as strong winds. Los Cuernos also looks beautiful, with a height of close to 2000 m. A recognized beautiful place among travelers is also the towers (Las Torres), which translates as "Blue Towers". Tourists also love the beautiful scenery provided by Glacier Grey Glacier, which is the most impressive in the Torres del Paine area. The outstanding valley in the park is the French Valley, which offers a unique landscape of glaciers, rocks, lakes, as well as a variety of plants and flowers.
It is impossible not to notice, at the entrance to the reserve, a wonderful lagoon with its own unique flora and fauna, surrounded by a mountain forest.
As for the flora of the Torres del Paine Nature Reserve, its diversity is simply stunning. Almost all the landscapes of Patagonia are present here – steppe, forest, and mountain desert. Representatives of the fauna are more than a hundred species of birds, and at least 25 varieties of mammals. The animals in the park feel like their rightful owners, as hunting in the reserve has been prohibited since 50 years ago. The species of the animal world are gunako (the most common in the park), cougars, foxes, hares, as well as deer, which are considered to be on the verge of extinction.
The reserve has developed many hiking trails, among which the most famous is the W trail. Its route is planned in such a way that it includes all the main attractions of the reserve. This trail is equipped with various cabins for overnight stays, where you can take a shower and eat hot food.
The best time to visit the Torres del Paine National Park is from December to the end of February, when the weather conditions are on your side.
