Puerto Pirámides
Encyclopedia
Puerto Pirámides is an Argentine town in Biedma Department
, Province of Chubut. Its population as of the was 429 inhabitants. It is the only town on the Valdes Peninsula
. It began in 1898 when the inland salinas were exploited for salt.
One of six nature reserves along Península Valdés, the Punta Pirámide reserve was established in 1974. The only town in Península Valdés, Puerto Pirámides became one of the premier whale watching destinations in the world; the municipality has six hotels, 15 lodges and two campgrounds.
developer Antonio Muno ventured into the exploitation of the area's considerable salt mines, for which he obtained permission to build a rail line and other facilities in 1900. Opting for the calm waters of the Golfo Nuevo
, he christened the new settlement Puerto Pirámides for the numerous pyramid-shaped cliffs that overlook the inlet.
The disruption of international trade during World War I
, however, caused the temporary collapse of the salt market and the closure of the local salt mines. Following bankruptcy proceedings, Muno was forced to cede his share of the land to one of his partners, Alejandro Ferro, who kept the area as a semi-private haven until the Province of Chubut expropriated it in 1958.
The inlet was the scene of an as-yet unexplained series of submarine incidents during 1958 to 1960, though afterward, the tiny hamlet drew little interest; tourists preferred nearby Golfo San Jorge, where whale watching
was better. During a survey of the area in 1972, famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau observed that calving southern right whale
mothers in a Golfo Nuevo
location near Puerto Pirámides had little interest had in raising offspring there, despite preferring to give birth at the site. When local entrepreneurs launched the first tourist expeditions later that year, however, calving whales began to stay year-round.
Biedma Department
Biedma is a department located in the north east of Chubut Province, on the Atlantic coast of Argentina.The provincial subdivision has a population of about 59,000 inhabitants in an area of 12,940km², and its capital city is Puerto Madryn, which is located around 1,334km from Buenos...
, Province of Chubut. Its population as of the was 429 inhabitants. It is the only town on the Valdes Peninsula
Valdes Peninsula
The Valdes Peninsula is a peninsula on the Atlantic coast in the Viedma Department in the north east of Chubut Province, Argentina. About in size, it is an important nature reserve which was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.- Geography :The nearest large town is Puerto Madryn...
. It began in 1898 when the inland salinas were exploited for salt.
One of six nature reserves along Península Valdés, the Punta Pirámide reserve was established in 1974. The only town in Península Valdés, Puerto Pirámides became one of the premier whale watching destinations in the world; the municipality has six hotels, 15 lodges and two campgrounds.
History
Originally inhabited by the Tehuelche people, attempts around 1800 to take control of the area on the part of Spanish conquistadores resulted in a routing by the headstrong Tehuelches. In 1898, Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
developer Antonio Muno ventured into the exploitation of the area's considerable salt mines, for which he obtained permission to build a rail line and other facilities in 1900. Opting for the calm waters of the Golfo Nuevo
Golfo Nuevo
Golfo Nuevo is a body of water formed by the Península Valdés and Punta Ninfas in the province of Chubut in the Argentine Patagonia. It is located 650 miles southwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Puerto Madryn is its major seaport. From May to December, the Southern right whales migrate to Golfo...
, he christened the new settlement Puerto Pirámides for the numerous pyramid-shaped cliffs that overlook the inlet.
The disruption of international trade during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, however, caused the temporary collapse of the salt market and the closure of the local salt mines. Following bankruptcy proceedings, Muno was forced to cede his share of the land to one of his partners, Alejandro Ferro, who kept the area as a semi-private haven until the Province of Chubut expropriated it in 1958.
The inlet was the scene of an as-yet unexplained series of submarine incidents during 1958 to 1960, though afterward, the tiny hamlet drew little interest; tourists preferred nearby Golfo San Jorge, where whale watching
Whale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
was better. During a survey of the area in 1972, famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau observed that calving southern right whale
Southern Right Whale
The southern right whale is a baleen whale, one of three species classified as right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena. Like other right whales, the southern right whale is readily distinguished from others by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching...
mothers in a Golfo Nuevo
Golfo Nuevo
Golfo Nuevo is a body of water formed by the Península Valdés and Punta Ninfas in the province of Chubut in the Argentine Patagonia. It is located 650 miles southwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Puerto Madryn is its major seaport. From May to December, the Southern right whales migrate to Golfo...
location near Puerto Pirámides had little interest had in raising offspring there, despite preferring to give birth at the site. When local entrepreneurs launched the first tourist expeditions later that year, however, calving whales began to stay year-round.
External links
- Official Puerto Pirámides site.
- UNESCO World Heritage portal — Official website and