Argentine Patagonia

1. Argentine Patagonia

2. Tourism This is really important for Patagonia, because the region has attracted a lot of visitors and cruises, both from Argentina, and from other countries, for the beauty and comodities in the area. Fishing in rivers and lakes, sailing, mountaineering, trekking, rafting, skiing and gastronomy are the main tourist attractions in Patagonia.

3. Perito Moreno Glacier It’s a glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park in the south west of Santa Cruz province. Perito Moreno is one of the mayor tourist drawcards in southern Patagonia. You can arrive there by bus, in less than two hours, from El Calafate city. A large visitor centre at the site features a walking circuit which allows to watch both sides of the glacier.

4. Nahuel Huapi Nacional Park The Nahuel Huapi National Park is the largest of the national parks in the region. There, the Nahuel Huapi Lake is located, in the northern Patagonia between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén. The park has two zones: the park and the natural sanctuary. In the national park there are high mountain chains of the Andes, many lakes, rapid rivers, waterfalls, snow-clad peaks, glaciers and extensive forests.

5. Neuquén Province Neuquén is located in the west of Argentina and north of the Patagonia. It borders Rio Negro, Mendoza, La Pampa and Chile. The province has many attractions to see: San Martín de los Andes, Villa La Angostura, Camino de los Siete Lagos, Los Arrayanes National Park, Lanín National Park, Nahuel Huapí National Park, Laguna Blanca National Park, etc. You can gon skiing in winter in Chapelco, Cerro Bayo and Caviahue.

6. Río Negro Province It is located at the northern edge of Patagonia and borders Chubut, Neuquén, Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. There are two main areas for tourism in the province: the Andes and the Atlantic coast. In the Andes side, the most visited area is the city of Bariloche and in the Atlantic coast, it’s Las Grutas ("The Caves"). In the centre of the Rio Negro, tourists visit the Alto Valle. Some water sports are on that river.

7. Chubut Province In this province, the attractions are Peninsula Valdés and the San José and Nuevo gulfs, where you may see the southern right whale in spring. It is shelter for right whales, eared seals,  elephant seals, penguins,  orcas and other animals. Another attraction is the Andes covered with snow During the whole year, lakes, rivers, and conifer forests. In this zone of Chubut, there are important  winter sports centers (mostly ski).

8. Santa Cruz Province The most important destination is the Los Glaciares National Park, where the Perito Moreno glacier is. The Cueva de las Manos is near the town of Perito Moreno, tourists see the prehistoric wall paintings in the caves. Trekking and others sports, like rafting and climbing, are practised on the west side of the province. The most visited places are the Rio Gallegos city, the Bosques Petrificados (Petrified Woods) National Park, and the Laguna del Carbón (Coal Lagoon)

9. Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:153_-_Glacier_Perito_Moreno_-_Grotte_glaciaire_-_Janvier_2010.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nahuel_Huapi_Lake,_Llao_Llao.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lanin_national_park.jpeg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Perito_Moreno_Glacier_Patagonia_Argentina_Luca_Galuzzi_2005.JPG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Radat.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Balneario_Choele_Choel1.jpg Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia#Tourism