NATURAL RESOURCES
Landscapes. Flora and fauna
Thousands of years ago, glaciers covered a big part of the national park. These ice rivers eroded and gave shape to the landscape, excavating in the mountains large valleys. At the same time these ice rivers were fragmenting and dragging lot of rocks, which had been accumulated in the front and the sides of the glacier, making small hills called “morrenas”. In a later climate change, which included a temperature increase, caused the reduction of the surface occupied by ice. Large milky water lakes occupied the bottom of the valleys and lush forests covered their slopes.
The ice countryside occupied an approximate surface of 2.600 km2 (a 30 % of the surface is covered by ice). From there, 47 bigger glaciers descend. The most famous glacier is the Perito Moreno, which expands over the south side of the Argentino Lake waters, with a 5 km front and 60 metres high over the lake.
Upsala glacier, which is ubicated in the north side of the same lake, is the bigger one, with 50 km length and almost 10 km wide.
 in the north side of the PN Los Glaciares (Los Glaciares National Park) there is the Fitz Roy, which stands up for its length (3.375 metres) and its huge aspect: a surrounding “cordillerana” mountain chain environment.
The aridest environment of the park is the steppe. There plants that are adapted to dry situation and heavy winds compose the vegetation. The small and prickly trees and the rough leaf grass provide protection to the ground, avoiding its erosion. And also they help to feed the “guanaco” and the “choique”.
The decrease of rains in the east of the area changes the landscape. In the area, called "ecotono" typical forest species coexists with other characteristics of the steppe. Groups of “ñires” and “lengas” appear between “calafate” and “notro” brushes and coexists with brushes dominated by the “coiron”.
in the heights, over the 1100 metres above the sea, strong winds, low temperatures and snowstorms don't let vegetables grow. The few and small plants which grow in the ground were adapted to live in short periods because of the difficult climate conditions.
Forests, which composition also depends on the heights and the climate conditions, occupy slopes and low areas. However, predominant species belongs to the same group, the Nothofagus, represented in the PN by three types: the “lenga”, that can be found in the all area, the “ñire” and the “colihue” or “guindo”.
Mammals, difficult to be observed, like the “gato montés”, the “hurón” and the “huemul”, frequent the sub-antarctic's forest. This animal goes down to the low slopes in winter in order to find food and refuge.
Other mammals are easy to be found, like the “zorro colorado” and the “puma”. Also usually appears the “condor” and birds like the “agachonas” and the “yales”, as well as little rodents.
Many birds find food and refuge in the forests, like the “cotorras australes” or “cachañas” and the little “rayaditos”.
The “carpinteros patagónicos” can be identified by their “tamboreros”, made with their beaks over the trunks.
The rodents are prey of their main predators: the “lechuzas”.
The “pato de las torrentes” captures his food diving in the watercourses, also frequented by the “remolineras”.
in the grasslands, present in the small open areas, which count on small water areas, live “bandurrias”, “cauquenes”, different species of ducks and amphibian called “ranita de cuatro ojos”.
in the east side of the Park, the Andes disappear in the patagonic tableland and in the forest are replaced by the steppe. There live “guanacos”, “zorros grises” and “zorros patagonicos”. Between birds, the “ñandu petiso” is the most outstanding. |
