Patagonia - geography.

Patagonia - geography. Patagonia, region of southern Argentina that occupies all of Argentina east of the Andes Mountains and south of the Río Colorado. The treeless plains of Patagonia form the largest desert in the Americas. Patagonia has an area of about 670,000 sq km (about 260,000 sq mi), which includes the eastern, or Argentine, part of the Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago off the southern tip of South America. The name Patagonia formerly applied to the southernmost portion of the South American continent, including what are now the southern parts of both Argentina and Chile. Although westerly winds perpetually sweep cold air across Patagonia, the northern and southern portions of the region each have a distinct climate. The semiarid north zone supports scrub forest, grasses, and shrubs, whereas the south zone sustains little vegetation because of its colder and drier environment. The western fringe of Patagonia receives coastal moisture, enabling coniferous and deciduous forests to grow. Patagonia contains some of the most diverse animal life and some of the most stunning landscapes in South America. Naturalist Charles Darwin traveled to this arid region in the early 19th century on his famous journey aboard the HMS Beagle and spent time observing the impressive array of indigenous plant and wildlife species. Today the region's national parks and reserves attract many people, and tourism is a growing industry. At Los Glaciares National Park in western Patagonia, visitors can hear and see glaciers creep and grind their way downhill, splitting off and plunging into lake water. Nahuel Huapí National Park, located farther north in the lake district of Patagonia, was established to protect its vast array of plant and animal life, including the pudú, a miniature deer. The Atlantic coast of Patagonia nurtures a wide variety of marine life, especially at Valdés Peninsula. Elephant seals, Magellanic penguins, right whales, sea lions, and a variety of sea birds are drawn to this promontory for its varied habitat and rich food supplies. Sheep raising is a key industry in Patagonia, and sprawling sheep stations occupy much of the countryside, especially in the south. Apples, peaches, pears, and other fruits are grown and processed in the Río Negro valley and are nurtured by water drawn from hydroelectric projects in northwest Patagonia. Even more significant to the region's economy than agriculture are the rich oil deposits discovered near Comodoro and Plaza Huincul; these deposits allow Argentina to be entirely self-sufficient in petroleum. Patagonia is sparsely populated by humans, but there are a few large cities, including Comodoro Rivadavia, Río Gallegos, and Trelew. The first European to visit Patagonia was Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, in 1520. The first people Magellan encountered in the region were the earliest inhabitants of Patagonia, the Tehuelche, a Native American group. The Tehuelche were tall by European standards, and Magellan referred to them as pata (Spanish for "paw" or "foot") because of the large size of their feet. Eventually this term was applied to the entire region. The Spanish and English tried colonizing Patagonia during the next several centuries. However, the first permanent settlements in the area were not established until 1865, when Welsh colonists in search of religious freedom settled in the area after escaping repression in their homeland. These Welsh settled around Trelew and relied on irrigation skills to help crops, including wheat, gain a foothold in the sparse landscape. The introduction of irrigation enabled immigrants from Chile, England, and Scotland to establish themselves in Patagonia and raise sheep herds. This immigration brought conflict between European settlers and Native Americans, however, and most of the Tehuelche were killed in the 1880s. Until the middle of the 20th century, English--rather than Spanish--was the prevalent language in many of the region's rural communities. Welsh is also still spoken in some areas. In 1902 a dispute between Argentina and Chile over Patagonia was finally settled. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.