Patagonia

Patagonia is a geographic and cultural region at the southern end of South America, spanning parts of Argentina and Chile. Its landscape ranges from the southern Andes and glacial icefields to expansive steppes and a rugged coastline along the Pacific and Atlantic. The climate is cool and windy, with substantial variation from semi-arid plateaus to coastal subpolar zones.

It is typically divided into Argentine Patagonia and Chilean Patagonia. Prominent natural features include the Andean ranges, the Patagonian icefields, and famed parks such as Torres del Paine in Chile and Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, which contains the Perito Moreno Glacier. The region’s southernmost cities include Ushuaia and Punta Arenas, among others.

Biodiversity includes guanacos, Patagonian foxes, and a range of birds, with coastal areas hosting penguins and marine mammals such as seals and whales. Protected areas and UNESCO sites, including Valdés Peninsula (UNESCO World Heritage) and Torres del Paine, play a major role in conservation and tourism.

Indigenous peoples such as the Mapuche, Tehuelche, and other groups inhabited Patagonia before European exploration. The name Patagonia is traditionally attributed to the crew of Ferdinand Magellan, who reportedly used it to describe the region’s large-footed natives. In modern times the economy centers on sheep ranching, oil and mineral extraction, tourism, and services related to outdoor recreation.