PN Monte León (Monte León National Park) constituted a representative sample of the patagonic coast in good state of conservation, with paleontological value places.

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA
In 1996 was proposed the inclusion of Monte León to the Argentine National Park System. And on October 20 th in 2004 was sanctioned the law that creates the Park, turning it into the first continental marine park of our country.
The reason was that this area constitutes a representative sample of the patagonic coast in good state of conservation, with paleontological value places.
A 60.000 penguin's colony lives in PN Monte León (Monte León National Park). It is the fourth colony in the world. It is situated in the southeast side of Santa Cruz, over the National Route Nº 3, 210 kilometres far from the north side of Rio Gallegos. The approximately surface of the area is 61.700 hectares.
The Administración de Parques Nacionales have incorporated this region as an equivalent area of the Argentino Sea, so that it is the first continental coast's national park.
Monte Leon belongs to Argentino Sea's and Patagonic Steppe's eco-regions. The last one represents the media and lower basins of the Atlantic's Slope. The climate is cold and dry, with wintered rains lower than 400 mm. There also strong winds from the West, dry summers and frosts during the whole year. Little trees, brushes and “xenophiles herbaceous” composed the vegetation.

REFERENCE MAP
Protected area location

NATURAL RESOURCES
Landscapes. Flora and fauna
High cliffs, small bays, beaches and “restingas” composed PN Monte León (Monte León National Park). The coast area represents 1 % of the argentine maritime seaboard. The sea in this zone is cold, with a very important fishes population.
The National Park has a colony of “cormorones”, “gaviotines”, penguins and 20 species of coast birds, which in many cases are difficult to see in other places.


Sea wolves and cetacean, like the Southern Right Whale can be watched from the coast. Also there is an important Magallanes penguin's colony of 60.000 individuals, which is the fourth in the world. The couples migrate every year to get a nest. In Monte Leon island and in the cliffs they find refuge and conceive three types of “cormoranes”: the “roquero”, the grey and the “imperial”.


One of the reason for creating the Park was to protect an important portion of the seaside patagonic steppe, natural habitat of “guanacos”, “choiques”, wolves and pumes.

CULTURAL RESOURCES
10.000 years ago groups of hunters took advantage of the seaside ambient and their many resources, like birds, rodents, molluscs and sea wolves. The Tehuelche, first's inhabitant's descendants, expanded the use of the territory, developing a bigger exchange with remoter groups.
The arrival of white men caused important modifications in original populations. These groups moved to the west side of the province and started having rural activities because of the gradual dependence on exchange products and the lost of territory.
In the last two centuries, many naturalists and travellers has been visited PN Monte León (Monte León National Park). Francisco Moreno (the driving force behind the National Parks System) visited the area at the end of 19 th century. Carlos Ameghino and father Alberto De Agostini came to Monte León too.
The Monte León farm belonged to “The Southern Patagonia “Sheep Farming Company Limited”. This great cattle exploitation moved in 1920 to the Braun family, who continued that activity up to the present. The guano extraction was important until 1930.

 

CONTACTS
Monte León National Park
C.C. Nº 35- (9300) Puerto Santa Cruz C.C.
Santa Cruz, Argentina
E-mail address: monteleon@apn.gov

Administración de Parques Nacionales
690, Santa Fe St. (1059)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Telephone numbers: (011) 4311-6633/0303
E-mail address: informes@apn.gov.ar