Patagonia
Patagonia is a vague geographical area. Its borders
vary depending on who is defining them and from where they are being
defined. As the Patagonia “concept” has begun to have a
comercial value there are an increasing number of claims to Patagonianism
from an alarming number of sources.
Two borders are clear, the Atlantic coast to the east
and the Pacific coast to the west (though many Argentines would disagree
saying Patagonia ended at the border). To the south there is little argument
that Patagonia, on both sides of the border includes Tierra del Fuego
but to the north it is less clear.
In Argentina the pampas extending south of Buenos Aires
are considered by some the beginning of Patagonia, the Rio Colorado by
others and by those living further south the Chubut valley is also seen
as a northen frontier. In Chile there is little argument that south of
Puerto Montt is all Patagonia which roughly matches wth the rio Colorado
line in Argentina. To those of us living south of Puerto Montt neither
Puerto Montt itself or any further north is really Patagonia.
It is perhaps these more arbitary claims rather than
a line on a map which best define Patagonia. It´s a place where
you can feel the wind, see for miles, travel on horse back, drink mate
and eat lamb cooked over a fire. It is the land of the romantic image
of the Gaucho. We have no doubt at all that the most beautiful, dramatic
and authentic area within Patagonia is Aysen, the 11th region of Chile
stretching between the Palena river in the north and the southern ice
cap.
The region covers 109 052 km2 of which 51 630 km2 are
protected wilderness areas. According to the 1992 census there are a
little over 80.000 inhabitants living here, more than half live in Coyhaique,
the regional capital. Population density is given as 0.8 inhabitants
per km2. |
