CALETA VALDES

Puerto Piramides | Caleta Valdes | Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery | Punta Norte

SHORT BACKGROUND HISTORY
The first inhabitants of the peninsula were the Tehuelche Indians who used Caleta Valdés to hunt guanacos and choiques, and to dive for shellfish.

Caleta Valdés was probably seen for the first time by Hernando de Magallanes (Magellan), when he discovered Península Valdés and Golfo Nuevo in 1520. Then it was explored from 1778 to 1810 by settlers in Fuerte San José and Fuentes de Villarino.

In the 18th century, several expeditions passed through the area, but the first to do any detailed mapping were the members of Alejandro Malaspina's expedition in 1779.

An expedition led by Juan Martínez de la Concha and José de la Peña, in 1895 arrived in Caleta Valdés on board the brigantine "Nuestra Señora del Carmen", and provided conclusive information on the area.

WHAT CAN ONE SEE?
The mouth of the bay offers an excellent panorama from the road itself (one should be careful not to approach the cliff edges as they are apt to crumble).

Towards the south of the mouth of the bay is the Provincial Fauna Reservation of Punta Cantor, from which viewing point the whole of the bay including its outlet can be observed.

This is an excellent place to observe walrus, foxes and armadillos.

FAUNA
The point and the islands contain huge groups of guanacos, maras (Patagonian hare), armadillos, choiques, foxes and other mammals; eagles, hawks, owls and other land birds.

On Penguin Island there are nesting colonies of Magellanic penguins, additional to the nesting colonies located on the external shore of the bay, in the internal shore (east shore, or west shore).

Here there are, as well, other avian species that nest in springtime, for example the Black-crowned Night-Heron), Steamer Ducks, Oystercatchers and the Chimango Caracara.

On some of the islands, and on the outer coast, in spring and summer one finds resting areas for southern walruses, while both inside the bay and on the outer coast whales, sea lions and killer whales are to be found.

Reptiles are also plentiful, especially lizards of the genus Liolaemus that are conspicuously coloured in spring and summer.

This area is also widely populated by the poisonous species Yarará Ñata snake (Bothrops ammodytoides). It is generally shy of humans, but if it is provoked it will bite. It is no longer than 60 cm. and its triangular head is clearly separated from the neck and has a snub-nosed snout (the origin of its name). Its coloring is generally light chestnut, and the dark brown markings on its back sometimes join to form a longitudinal zigzag pattern.

When a visitor has been bitten by this snake it is wise not to touch the wound nor apply a tourniquet. The snake should be identified without touching it, the ranger should be advised, and one should go immediately to the aid center in Puerto Pirámides or Puerto Madryn. Snake bite serum antidote is obtainable in the area.

The islands of Caleta Valdés have an important an ecological feature: they are the only places in Patagonia where sheep have never been introduced.

FLORA
This area has been classified as a bushy steppe featuring Schinus Polygamus (Molle) and Lycium chilense (Piquillín), with a total 40% coverage.

Main herbs are Stipa tenuis, Stipa neaei, Stipa speciosa and Stipa humilis, but other species accompany them, such as Poa ligularis and Plantago patagónico.

The area can be divided into a mosaic formed by types of environmental units, where the following species are to be found: Schinus johnstonii, Atriplex sagittifolium, Chuquiraga avellanedae, Ephedra ochreata, Suaeda divaricata, Chuquiraga erinacea, Cyclolepis genistoides, and Aphanostelma candolleanum, as well as unnamed mosses and lichens.