Perito Moreno National Park
Encyclopedia
Perito Moreno National Park is a national park
in Argentina
. It is located in the western region of Santa Cruz Province
on the border with Chile
. It has an area of 115,000 hectares of mountains and valleys at a height of 900 metres above sea level
.
.
) which reaches 3,707m in height, which is generally covered by clouds. To the north of the lake Belgrano the cerro Leon (Lion hill) reaches 1,380 m and to the east of the same lake, the Gorra de Vasco (Basque peak) reaches 1,140 m. Inside the Park the Sierra Colorada (Red plain) is distinguished, of some 1,200 m, whose western slope is very abrupt, and whose coloring gives its name.
along with numerous rivers and streams.
The Pacific basin feeds into the lago Mogote (lake Mogote), which then flows into lago Volcán (lake Volcano).
The Atlantic basin features lago Burmeister (lake Burmeister) at 932 m. The many rivers in the basin traverse the Santa Cruz province and eventually reach the Atlantic to the east.
Other species include guanaco, puma (cougar), lynx
, pategonian fox
, dwarf armadillo
, ferret
, skunk
, tuco-tuco
and south andean deer
.
One hundred and fifteen species of bird have been recorded in the park, including peregrine falcon
, hooded grebe
, flamingo
, andean goose
, Podiceps
, and several species of duck
s, falcon
s and eagle
s.
National Parks of Argentina
The National Parks of Argentina make up a network of 30 national parks in Argentina. The parks cover a very varied set of terrains and biotopes, from Baritú National Park on the northern border with Bolivia to Tierra del Fuego National Park in the far south of the continent .The creation of the...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It is located in the western region of Santa Cruz Province
Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)
Santa Cruz is a province of Argentina, located in the southern part of the country, in Patagonia. It borders Chubut province to the north, and Chile to the west and south. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean...
on the border with Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. It has an area of 115,000 hectares of mountains and valleys at a height of 900 metres above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
History
The park is one of the oldest in Argentina having been established in 1937. It is named in honour of the explorer Francisco MorenoFrancisco Moreno
Francisco Pascacio Moreno was a prominent explorer and academic in Argentina, where he is usually referred to as Perito Moreno...
.
Climate
The latitude, altitude and snow covered mountains mean that the temperature is almost constantly below 0°C outside the summer months where it rarely reaches above 15°C. Snowfall is common from the mountains to the steppes. There is a frequent westerly wind which reaches speeds of 100 km/h.Terrain
The park is located at around 900 metres above sea level, which is the height at which the valleys are inhabited. A series of mountain chains traverse the park from east to west and from north to south, resembling an imposing amphitheater. Inside the protected area the highest peak is cerro Heros (Heros hill) at 2,770m. Nearby, but outside the boundary of the park lies the imposing cerro San Lorenzo (Monte San LorenzoMonte San Lorenzo
Monte San Lorenzo, also known as Monte Cochrane, is a mountain on the border between Argentina and Chile in Patagonia, reaching a height of . The Chilean name of Cochrane comes from the nearby town of Cochrane where climbers often approach the mountain...
) which reaches 3,707m in height, which is generally covered by clouds. To the north of the lake Belgrano the cerro Leon (Lion hill) reaches 1,380 m and to the east of the same lake, the Gorra de Vasco (Basque peak) reaches 1,140 m. Inside the Park the Sierra Colorada (Red plain) is distinguished, of some 1,200 m, whose western slope is very abrupt, and whose coloring gives its name.
Hydrography
Two main basins are distinguished, one on the Pacific side and the other on the Atlantic. They comprise eight lakes including Belgrano LakeBelgrano Lake
Belgrano Lake is a lake in the Santa Cruz Department of Patagonia, Argentina. It is located in the west of the province. It is located in the Perito Moreno National Park.-References:*...
along with numerous rivers and streams.
The Pacific basin feeds into the lago Mogote (lake Mogote), which then flows into lago Volcán (lake Volcano).
The Atlantic basin features lago Burmeister (lake Burmeister) at 932 m. The many rivers in the basin traverse the Santa Cruz province and eventually reach the Atlantic to the east.
Flora and fauna
Of the 24 species of mammal that can be found in the park the most exotic and endangered species is the small wildcat gato pajero (Lynchailurus pajeros). Another small wildcat found within the park is the gato huiña (Oncifelis guigna) which is also endangered.Other species include guanaco, puma (cougar), lynx
Lynx
A lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
, pategonian fox
Culpeo
The culpeo , sometimes known as the culpeo zorro or Andean fox , is a South American species of wild dog. It is the second largest native canid on the continent after the maned wolf. In its appearance it bears many similarities to the widely recognized red fox...
, dwarf armadillo
Pichi
The Pichi or Dwarf Armadillo is a small armadillo that is the only member the genus Zaedyus. The range of the Pichi is from central and southern Argentina , west to the Andean grasslands of Chile and south to the Strait of Magellan.Its body is approximately long with a tail of 4-6 inches...
, ferret
Ferret
The ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur...
, skunk
Skunk
Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
, tuco-tuco
Tuco-tuco
The tuco-tucos are members of a group of rodents that belong to the family Ctenomyidae. The tuco-tucos belong to a single genus: Ctenomys, but they include some 60 different species. The relationships among the species are debated by taxonomists. Their closest relatives are degus and other...
and south andean deer
South Andean Deer
The South Andean Deer, Hippocamelus bisulcus, also known as the Huemul , is an endangered species of deer native to the mountains of Argentina and Chile. One of two mid-sized deer of the Hippocamelus genus, the South Andean Deer ranges across the high mountainsides and cold valleys of the Andes...
.
One hundred and fifteen species of bird have been recorded in the park, including peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
, hooded grebe
Hooded Grebe
The Hooded Grebe , is a medium-sized grebe found in the southern region of South America. It grows to about 34 cm in length, and is black and white in color...
, flamingo
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
, andean goose
Andean Goose
The Andean Goose, Chloephaga melanoptera, is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae.It is resident around lakes and marshes in the high Andes, usually well above 3000 m...
, Podiceps
Podiceps
Podiceps is a genus of birds in the grebe family.It has representatives breeding in Europe, Asia, North and South America. Most northern hemisphere species migrate in winter to the coast or warmer climates....
, and several species of duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s, falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
s and eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
s.