LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK

FLORA AND FAUNA
Apart from the mountains and glaciers, the Sub-Antarctic woods with colorful-flowered trees such as the lenga, the coihue, the shrub-like notro or ciruelillo and the calafate are well worth observing.

The forest is home to the huemul which in winter time goes down from the higher prairies in search of food and shelter.

The Magellan Woodpecker, the Austral Parakeet, the Green-backed Firecrown, the Lesser Rhea (choique) and the Andean condor are some of the main bird species in this area.

There is a wide range of aquatic birds such as the Black-necked Swan, and also ducks such as the Andean Ruddy Duck or the Torrent Duck.

To the east, the Andes turns into the Patagonian plateau and the forest into the steppe. The steppe is the habitat of guanacos, grey foxes and Patagonian skunks. Among the birds, the Lesser Rhea is the great runner in the region.

PREHISTORICAL PERIOD
3,000 years ago, the Lake Argentino area was already inhabited by groups of skilful collector-hunters who were able to make the most of the land and space in the steppes and in the forests at heights varying from 200 to 1100 m above sea level.

The economy, which was mainly based on guanaco rising, was complemented by other produce according to the time of the year.

Diggings and research in archaeological sites have revealed the presence of objects brought from the Pacific Ocean, which would indicate a connection between both areas in the past.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The National Park's reception office is in El Calafate, which together with El Chalten, provides accommodation in inns, lodgings and cabins. Camping grounds can be found near Lake Viedma and Lake Argentino in El Chalten zone.

Sailing tours on Lake Argentino depart from Punta Bandera toward Onelli Bay and Upsala Glacier; the paths over Perito Moreno Glacier the most attractive points: try walking over one of the glacier's edges.

Lake Onelli, full of small icebergs that have separated from three glaciers, can be accessed by the 800 mt path from the catamaran wharf.

Things to do: take a land trip to Lake Roca leaving early in the morning when plenty of eagles, Caracaras and condors can be seen, trek in the park, make and excursion to Lake Del Desierto (outside the park) from El Chalten.

Sport-fishing of different species that have been introduced in Lake Roca, Lake Viedma, Lake Argentino and Las Vueltas River is another popular attraction.

Other alternatives in the area:

• Perito Moreno Glacier: It can be accessed along the Rico Arm track; in it there are vantage points and footbridges from where you can admire the magnificent glacier.
• Track to Rio Blanco base camp: starts at the ranger's headquarters in Lake Viedma, crosses Fitz Roy River and goes through lenga forests. The traveller can get to Los Tres Lagoon from the base camp in Mt Chalten in a 4-hour trip.
• Mt Chalten (Fitz Roy) is climbed every year by experts from all over the world.
• Track to the lagoon and Mt Torre base camp: starts at the ranger's headquarters in Lake Viedma, takes a path by the Fitz Roy River and goes through a lenga forest to Lake Torre. It is a 6 hour round trip and covers a distance of around 15 km.

Other activities in the area (from El Calafate):

• "Estancia Alice" (El Galpon) offers sheep herding and shearing as well as horse-rides to Perito Moreno (21 km).
• Guided tours to the cave paintings at Punta Gualichu, going across Lake Argentino (10 km). The place can be reached either by car or on horseback; the trips are organized from El Calafate.
• Spend a country holiday in a ranches: Alta Vista (33km), Nibepo Aike (60 km) and Helsingfors (150 km, on the borders of Lake Viedma)
• Brown Sea-trout and Steelhead Trout fishing in
• Estancia Guer Aike" (Truchaike) 200 km, close to Rio Gallegos
• "La Cueva de las Manos" has cave paintings worth seeing. Go from El Chalten to Tres Lagos, then to Lake San Martin, along Chalia River.