SOUTHERN PATAGONIA REGION
Including the provinces of:
SANTA CRUZ / TIERRA DEL FUEGO / ANTARTIDA / ISLAS DEL ATLÁNTICO SUR
It comprises the south of the province of Santa Cruz , Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands. Its landscape belongs to the vast Patagonian plains, rich in lakes, lagoons, forests, huge ice blocks and the impressive Fitz Roy and Torre mountains. This region possesses many of the most important tourist centers in the country, including the world-famous Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks. However, many more attractions await the visitor. Its enormous cattle ranches are very popular among tourists.
There are also many farms where high-quality organic products are grown and exported. This is the perfect place for the practice of adventure tourism and all kinds of programs which require direct contact with natural sceneries, such as photographic safaris, horse rides, birdwatching, mountain bike rides, rides in sledges pulled by dogs and, in winter, some unique skiing experiences. Its cuisine has the classic Patagonian flavour, with a clear influence provided by Chilean immigration, and making good use of all the resources generously provided by its lakes and rivers, mainly by means of salmonidae fishing.
PROVINCE OF SANTA CRUZ
This is the southernmost province from continental Argentina and the second in size. Its varied economic wealth is based on oil and coal exploitation, on its sheep farming industry, providing meat and wool in huge ranches, and on the diversity of tourist attractions which draw an increasing number of visitors from all over the world. The Perito Moreno glacier, with its imposing aspect and its collapsing blocks of ice, can be found in Los Glaciares National Park. The famous Cueva de las Manos or Cave of the Hands is located beside the Pinturas rivers, with its perfectly kept millenary rupestrian paintings. And its petrified woods, which seem to have been taken right out of a fairy tale. And its penguin and seal colonies. All these attractions can be appreciated thanks to the protected national parks which take great care of these marvelous legacies from Nature. As well as a great hotel industry, the tourist can choose to stay in one of the many traditional ranches, thus coming into firsthand contact with their activities, such as the fascinating sheep shearing.
PROVINCE OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO
Its jurisdiction includes, besides Isla Grande and Isla de los Estados, the Argentine Antarctic area, Malvinas, Georgias and Sándwich del Sur Islands. There are three well-defined geographic areas: the North, an extension of the Patagonian plateau, with a flat relief, the Center, which is a transition between the steppe and the forest, and the mountainous region of the South, which encompasses most tourist attractions. The waters coming from the ice melting flow into a wide network of rivers and streams that subsequently flow into either the ocean or the Beagle channel. This is every tourist's paradise. In winter, every sport requiring ice or snow can be practiced. In summer, flower-filled forests, lakes, canals and hills make up a landscape of superb beauty. From an economic viewpoint, its sawmills, electronic factories, oil and gas exploitation as well as over half a million sheep are worth mentioning.
Antarctica is an increasingly popular destination, visited by dozens of cruises, filled with visitors eager to see its incomparable beauty.
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