NATURE ATTRACTIONS

On the outskirts of Buenos Aires one can find attractions that are protected as NATURAL-RESERVES. Amongst those we can mention the following:

BOTIJA ISLAND

Natural Integral Reserve.
Partido San Fernando - Paran Delta.It is placed almost at the border of the area called the Low Delta. The islands are box shaped, with an elevated border called "albardn" and a depression in the centre called "pajonal". The zone is considered a diverse subtropical forest.
Many plants, such as rushes, floating water hyacinths, straw and silk cotton tree are usual. In the "Monte Blanco" (white forest), a marginal forest, you can find subtropical shrubs and trees with peculiar names such as "pindo", "agarrapalo", red and white "sarand", passion flowers, "criollo" willow and river alders.
This reserve is one of the last havens for the subtropical wildlife that migrates down here from the "misionera" forest located higher. Here you can find wild swamp deer, capybaras, river and coypus (Myocaster coypus), a kind of local beaver, as well as numerous bird species. In its waters you will find fish with exotic names such as dorados, atherines, "pates" and catfish, although they are under heavy environmental pressure and some are close to extinction.

BARCA GRANDE RIVER

Fish Reserve.
Partido San Fernando.

This reserve is devoted to the protection of fish and water plants. Reproduction of all endangered species is favoured. No acts that may disturb the environment are allowed here.

MARTIN GARCIA ISLAND

Natural and Historical Reserve.
It is sited in the extreme north of the Buenos Aires province, immediately south of the place where the Uruguay River runs into the Upper "Ro de la Plata". It has a surface of 180 has (slightly above two thirds of a square mile.). The Office for the Conservation of Natural Environments administers it, under the Ministries of Production and Directorate of the Islands and the Interior department.

The Martn Garca island is a rocky outcrop that belongs to the Brasilia massif, from Precambrian times (about 1,800 millions of years back), differing from the young islands of the Paran delta, that are of an alluvial origin. On this island, close to the Tandilia area we can find the oldest surface rocks in all Argentine. Its highest point is located near the lighthouse and in spite of only standing up 27 m altitude (88.5 ft) it is still the highest island in the Paran River delta region.

Its coast is made up of beaches full with crystal rocky fragments, interspersed with a little sand. The climate is mild and humid, with a tendency to warm. Average rains reach 1000 mm or almost 40 inches. The island is rich in historical events, and has been declared a "Historic Place."

The multicolored environment and flora of the island has made it one of the most bio diverse spots in the province. The marginal forests are to be found on some coastal sectors of the island, with similar botanical characteristics and composition as the "white mountains" of the Delta. It is an poor version of the subtropical forests found in the "Misiones" province, north of Buenos Aires.

Tree vegetation is comprises ceibo trees; laurel, a local parent of the Old World laurel, used as a specie; the "Azota caballos" (horse-whipper), a fine native tree, of big size and stunning leaf canopy; the "Agarrapalo" or "igua-poi", a specie like a strangling fig, which fruits are very sought after by birds that help in its dispersal; and the "chal-chal", with fleshy fruits which change colour from yellow to orange to end up red. Lianas and other clinging plants are very common in these forests, and we can mention the so-called "cip" and clematis (angel hair) as being the most plentiful.

In spite of its small surface, the number of animal species catalogued is quite large. Amongst the semi aquatic species the coypu or "coipo" a type of beaver is worth mentioning, and when not being hunted, becomes quite common and, keeping day habits, it is quite easy to observe.

Birds make up one of the most prominent aspects of the local wildlife, both because of the variety of species as well as their colorful plumage and songs. In the swamplands and on the coastal areas one can see species of big sizes such as the white and also the blue heron, cormorants, the so called "caracolero" (snail kite), this last one is a bird of prey with a superb black plumage with a very curved beak which it delicately uses to pull out snails from their shells, these being his favorite food. We can also remember the greenfinch and the "pico de plata" the silver beak.

On the island one can see the vestiges of all the uses it has had over the centuries (quarry, prison, quarantine station and lepers colony, amongst others), all of which are reflected in its architecture. There is a network of small roads and walking paths, which allow for short and medium distance circuits and are ideal for bicycle tours. Visiting patches for visitors are the cinema theatre, the cemetery, the lighthouse, the Chinatown, the cannon emplacements, the riverside forest and the sand pit.