Chile - Torres del Paine

TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK, PATAGONIA
Declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, this park not only contains some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Chile, but also 25 species of mmal and more than 115 species of bird.

Sent by Fernando from Santiago, Chile.

This is from UNESCO : Torres del Paine and Bernardo O'Higgins National Parks include over 90% of the Southern Patagonian Icefield; the remainder of it, across the border in Argentina, is included within Los Glaciares National Park (W.H.Site). The area of the proposed site is 37.073 sq.km. Besides the icefield that follows the main Andes rnage for approximately 350 km in a north south direction, the site includes outlying ranges such as tha Paine Massif, well known as a scenic area and as a challenging mountain climbimg destination. To the west, the site extends to the open waters of the Pacific Ocean through a maze of fiords and islands, that show different examples and stages of glacial action and periglacial ecosystems succession. The area was given National Park status by succesive decrees issued from 1959 thruogh 1975.