Patagonia

Patagonia is the region in Southern Chile and Argentina forming South America's final thousand miles. The region is a largely uninhabited wilderness, which in its eastern portion consists primarily of flat, dry plains. Along the western coast, however, a spine of rugged mountains extends along the deeply indented coast. The mountain sides are densely covered in rain forests, and numerous glaciers, some as long as fifty miles, flow through the forests and plunge into a complex system of lakes and narrow fjords. The entire range is blanketed by two long narrow ice-caps. The larger southern ice cap is flanked to the south and east by dramatic rock peaks. Access to the range is difficult, but Patagonia is a worthwhile wilderness challenge for anyone willing to brave the prevailing severity of the weather. November (possibly December) and March (possibly February) are the most likely months for avoiding Patagonia's relentless cold temperatures and heavy precipitation. The highest of the Patagonian peaks is Cerro San Valentin (13,313 ft./4058 m). Perhaps the most famous peaks are the sheer rock towers of Cerro Fitzroy and Paine Grande.