El National Park Torres del Paine It is a natural space and a protected wild area located in Chile. It is located in the province of Ultima Esperanza and is between the Andes Mountains and the famous Patagonian Steppe. At present it is one of the most visited places in Chile and a protected natural area of great importance in the country.
Let's see what can be done and seen in this incredible natural park Torres del Paine, which has areas of great beauty. Today it is a tourist-oriented place, so it offers good services and a unique experience.
History of the natural park
This place was populated years ago by the indigenous people known as Aonkienk or Tehuelches. This indigenous people spent several centuries in the area, until Westerners arrived in the area in the 1959th century. This caused them to displace the indigenous people until they left and finally became extinct in the area. Already at the beginning of the 1978th century this area began to be exploited to raise livestock and for agricultural tasks, covering many hectares of land. The beginning of the protection of the park would not arrive until the sixties, with numerous campaigns in favor of stopping the exploitation of the area. In principle, a small protected area was established that was gradually expanded until it reached the size it is today. The park was created in XNUMX but the limits it has today were achieved in the XNUMXs. In XNUMX it was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
National Park Torres del Paine
This park is located 154 kilometers from the town of Puerto Natales. In this park you can enjoy a protected nature and landscapes that take your breath away. The large massifs that give the park its name attract attention, but there is much more, since in this area you can visit several lakes such as Sarmiento, icebergs, forests and large pampas.
Sarmiento Lake
This lake generated by the rains in the area has an intense blue color. In the white border that can be seen on the shore we have a vestige of history, with living calcium carbonate fossils that were formed in the last ice age, that is, thousands of years ago. The route along the lake is straight, with the mountains in the background, so it is not too difficult.
Laguna Amarga
This lagoon gets its name from the high PH waters they have a bitter taste. It is one of the pictures that are incredible in this park, since it is located at the foot of Cerro Toro, with the mountains as a background. The lake is like a large mirror that reflects these beautiful mountains, so the effect is truly amazing. It is a two-hour walk from the Sarmiento lagoon and in this place it is sometimes possible to see birds such as flamingos.
Gray Lake
Lake Gray can be visit by taking another hiking route through the park. You cross the Pingo River by a suspension bridge and you reach a forest to see at the end some remains of the great glacier that is nearby. In this area of the glacial lake there is a stone viewpoint at the top that offers spectacular views that will be unforgettable for visitors.
Glacier Gray
This beautiful glacier gradually disappears every year, so it is very necessary to be able to appreciate it as soon as possible. It is located next to Gray Lake and there is a glacier lookout to see it. There are also boat trips to see it up close, something that is much more impressive. Undoubtedly one of the essential visits in Torres del Paine.
Milodon Cave
In this area, today converted into a National Monument, the remains of the prehistoric Milodon were found. You walk along a wooden walkway that leads to the entrance of the cave where these ancient remains were found. In one of the viewpoints there is a wooden milodon.
Big jump
Bordering another of the lakes in this park, Lake Pehoé, you come to a great waterfall called the Salto Grande. The waterfall is ten meters high and goes to the aforementioned lake. It has blue waters and the place is of great beauty although you can still see the remains of the great fire of 2011 from which nature has not yet recovered. In this area you can also access a viewpoint to enjoy the view of the waterfall.
Cuernos del Paine
Another visit that is A must is the Cuernos Viewpoint, with a one-hour walk that takes us to the best views of what is known as Cuernos del Paine. These mountains that give the park its name are spectacular and very beautiful.