Patagonia

What's the approximate size (area) of Patagonia?

• France x2

• Canada

• Italy x2

• Poland x1/2

Answer explanation

Patagonia is 1.100.000 km²!!!

For reference, Argentina is 3,701,913 km², making this region 1/3 of the country's area.

Here are some countries' areas that are as large or smaller than the Patagonian region:

• - Colombia: 1,038,700 km²

• - Ukraine: 579,330 km²

• - France: 551,695 km²

• - Spain: 498,980 km²

Which one of the following is a typical animal from Patagonia?

• Guanaco

• Guayaba

• Coati

• Capybara

Answer explanation

I can promise you will see at least one Guanaquito when you go to Patagonia!

These close relatives of the llama are two of the wild camelid species we have in Argentina and Chile: the other one is the Vicuña.

They are between 1 and 1.5 metres tall and weigh 90 to 150 kg.

Young guanacos are called chulengos: isn't that such a funny word?!

(Wrong answers: Guayaba/Guava is a tropical fruit; Coati and Capybara are animals typical from the tropical northeast of Argentina and Brazil and Paraguay)

How is the climate of Patagonia generally characterized?

• Cold, windy, and with abundant precipitation

• Hot, dry, and windless

• Mild, with snow and no wind

• Humid, with little rain and sunny

Answer explanation

Covering such a large area, the climate varies from north to south, and east to west, however, this answer summarises the general climate in Patagonia.

Winters tend to be much longer than summers, with the shoulder seasons being extremely short (spring starts only in October/November, and by May quite a lot of snowfall is registered).

The vast desertic area allows for winds to gain velocity before hitting the high peaks in the west of Argentina.

At the top of the high mountains, a dangerous wind collapse happens between warm South Pacific Ocean winds and cold and powerful Atlantic winds. This is why Patagonian peaks are regarded as extremely unpredictable by mountaineers.

Which month is the best to see the whales in northern Patagonia?

• September

• March

• January

• June

Answer explanation

The Ballena Franca Austral migrates to the northern coast of Patagonia to mate and give birth before heading back south to its normal habitat: the southernmost part of the Atlantic Ocean.

These beautiful mammals would normally stay near the city of Puerto Madryn from July to November, but with the advanced climate change, in the last couple of years, it's only possible to see them from the end of August until the beginning of October.

In the peak month of September, you can hear the whales from the town centre and see them jump and swim around from the very shore!

What country has a small colony near Puerto Madryn in Patagonia?

• France

• Wales

• Holland

• Ireland

Answer explanation

On 28 July 1865, a Welsh ship with 153 settlers arrived in northern Patagonia to establish a new town far away from home.

The Welsh settlers became friendly with the local aboriginal tribes and settled down next to the river inland from the port of Puerto Madryn.

To this day, they teach the Patagonian Welsh language in their local schools and have lovely tea rooms where they serve a mix of local and Welsh cakes, pastries, and teas.

Most Patagonians from this region born before 1950 speak Welsh as a first language.

What is the longest river in Argentina that crosses the Patagonia?

• Río Negro

• Río Azul

• Río Blanco

• Río Amarillo

Answer explanation

The longest river (635 km in length) in Argentina that crosses the Patagonia is Río Negro, located in the province with the same name.

Formerly, it was also known as the "river of the willows" because of the large number of weeping willows that grow along the bank.

It originates in the west of the country, in the mountainous town of Villa La Angostura and it runs all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

What is the best time to spot penguins in Patagonia?

• From May to October

• From April to August

• From September to March

• From December to February

Answer explanation

September to March are the best months to see the Magellan penguins in Patagonia.

In northern Patagonia, you can visit Punta Tombo, the largest penguin rookery in continental Patagonia, with more than a million penguins arriving there every year to breed - a.k.a. baby penguins galore!

At Punta Tombo, there's a museum and a boardwalk along the penguin's habitat. You can literally just walk next to them and see their babies in the burrows!

What do Argentinians call the Falkland Islands?

• Las Reinas

• Islas Marlinas

• Islas Isabella

• Islas Malvinas

Answer explanation

The Falklands are about 500 km east off the coast of Argentina. Even though they are British territory, Argentinians have claimed them as belonging to their country for decades.

After the war with the UK was lost in 1982, the Argentinian people have kept a strong sentiment regarding this topic.

While travelling in Patagonia, you will even see signs on the roads that claim "Las Malvinas son argentinas" but, sadly for the Argentinian people, even the Falklands habitants believe themselves to be British.

What is the southernmost point of Argentinian Patagonia?

• Cabo San Lucas

• Cabo San Pío

• Tierra del Fuego

• Ushuaia

Answer explanation

The lighthouse of Cabo San Pio is the most emblematic image to represent the southernmost part of the world.

This point is located on the Isla Grande, off the coast of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, and is considered the southernmost point of the Argentinian country and therefore the world, but some people argue that other small islands are even further south than it.

What other country shares part of the Patagonia region with Argentina?

• Uruguay

• Chile

• UK

• Antartica

Answer explanation

10% of the Patagonian region belongs to the narrow country of Chile, with breathtaking views such as Torres del Paine (this image) and extreme proximity to the South Pacific Ocean.

Visiting the Chilean side of Patagonia proves to be hard due to a lack of infrastructure but it can be accessed by land from the Argentinian side.

On the Chilean side, there are incredible fjords and islands, making it a nicer destination for navigation and seaside tourism.