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Alerces. Photo: Raúl Matelo
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The Andean Patagonian forest diversity is huge |
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Here go some clues to help you
interpret it:
First, it is good to tell native plants from the exotic. To the
latter belongs the variety of pines, the poplars and other trees
of quick growth, used in streets lined with trees. Among the
bushes, the exotic mosqueta (rose hip) and retama (broom) have
widely spread; so is the case of the lupines, an attractive
flower of intense scent.
The rest, obviously, belongs to the ecosystem of the region.
National Parks brochures, interpretation signs, park rangers or
a good guide can help you recognize the native species. To
identify them, you can classify them as trees and bushes.
See the height and branching. It also helps to watch their
leaves and bark. |
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Nothofagus |
Among the trees, it is the most extended genus. You can find
coihue (Nothofagus dombeyi), roble pellín (Nothofagus
oblicua), raulí (Nothofagus nervosa), ñire (Nothofagus
Antarctica) and lenga (Nothofagus pumilio).
Only the coihue is evergreen, while the rest lose their leaves
in autumn and provides the forest with some amazing colours
that range from yellow to orange and red.
To spot them, you should know where they grow. The ñire
-twisted and short- grows in low or wet soil; the coihue -the
biggest-, near streams in humid areas. The roble pellin and
the rauli have the biggest leaves. The lenga grows in the
highest part of the mountain, at 1.000 m.a.s.l. and shows the
high limit of the forest. Up there it grows like a bush so as
to survive the strong winds.
When you visit the roads along the lakes, you will see how
denser vegetation gets towards the limit with Chile. This is
due to the fact that the place receives the maximum rainfall,
decreasing quickly towards the east. (Hua Hum: 3.500mm /year -
SM de los Andes: 1.400 mm/year).
Among the most representative bushes and small plants, you can
find the "caña colihue", the "notro" (with beautiful red
flowers), the "calafate", the "chilco" (Fucsia) and the
"maqui".
On the western side of the Andes, the high amount of rainfall
adds a good variety of plants to the forest, giving rise to
the Valdivian rainforest.
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Fructificación (piñones).
Photo: Raúl Matelo
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Pehuén (Araucaria araucana) |
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It is a symbol of the
province of Neuquen as it is the only place where it grows. It
is a very old species, with a huge size of about 40 m high and
2 m of diameter, which grows slowly: it can reach an age of
1000 years old. Male and female can be recognized from their
different shapes. Its branches, like candlestick, have hard
leaves and the fruit, the "piñón", is very important for the
mapuche's food.
You will find the pehuen from the north of the Lanin national
park to Caviahue and similar latitudes in Chile. |
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Andean cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis) |
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The top is conical, with
small flat leaves of dark green. It grows from Neuquén to
Chubut, between 700 and 1500 m.a.s.l., and is widely spread in
national parks in north Patagonia. Like the pehuen, it fits
into a rustic environment: sun, winds, stony soils and scarce
water, so it is valuable for protecting soils in arid areas.
You can see it in slopes north oriented, even in cliff rocks. |
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Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) |
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From the same family as the
Andean cypress, this big tree can be up to 30 m high and 3 m
of diameter. It is one of the oldest in the world. It grows
from the south of Neuquen to the north of Chubut -the oldest
(almost 3000 years old) is in Los Alerces National Park.
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Forestal activities |
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At the beginning of the XX
century, the forest industry was the main activity by the
lakes Lacar and Lolog, regulated by the National Park since
1970.
At that time, local development began to improve tourism,
which became an activity that increased fast. Nowadays, only
sustainable forest exploitation is allowed.
If you need firewood, use only branches and logs lying on the
floor; never cut a tree. |
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Canadair
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Forestall fires prevention |
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. Respect the camp fire
places. They are always near a stream or a road, useful to get
water and have access to put out a fire.
. Choose the proper place.
Never use holes at the bottom of a tree. Clean the ground from
dead leaves and keep an eye on it. Never leave a fire during
the night.
. Put out the fire with water.
. Do not throw away matches or cigarettes.
. In case you see smoke or fire, try to let the nearest forest
ranger know. |
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Argentina:
Norte Neuquino,
Caviahue
- Copahue,
Villa Pehuenia,
Aluminé,
Junín de los Andes,
San Martín de los
Andes, Villa Traful,
Villa La Angostura,
Bariloche,
El Bolsón,
Lago Puelo,
El Hoyo,
Esquel,
Trevelin.
Chile: Pucón,
Villarrica,
Temuco,
Valdivia,
Puerto Montt
- Puerto Varas.
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