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Extending 1,742,000
hectares (3,832,400 acres), this park is the largest in Aysén
and includes the entire Northern Ice Fields (Campos de Hielo Norte)
where countless rivers and lakes originate. The tallest
peak in the Southern Andes, Mount San Valentín (4,058 m or 13,310
ft), is located in the park.
The field of ice extends over this mountain and the surrounding
hills and is the origin of 19 glaciers. However, the park
is most famous for Mount San Valentín. An impressive sight
is the large blocks of ice that can be seen breaking off the glaciers
and crashing into the lake with a thunderous roar. Although
the glaciers and the lake are the park's major attractions, the
park also accommodates a rich variety of both water and land birds.
Some notable species include the black-browed albatross, huala
duck, black
necked swan, and the cormorant, among many others.
You can also observe dolphins, fur seals, chungungos, and elephant
seals.
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Location
Aysén
region, Coyhaique
is 82 km (51 mi) south of Puerto Chacabuco and the lagoon
is 120 marine miles southeast of Puerto Chacabuco. Location
How to get there
Santiago-Puerto Montt:
by airplane, by private or public land transportation.
Puerto Montt-Laguna San Rafael: by boat. Transportation
When to go
Year round.
Other nearby attractions
Las Guaitecas National Reserve
Activities
Trekking, sea kayak,
fishing, plant and animal observation, photography,
mountaineering. Activities
Section
Climate
Humid with lots of rain by the coast measuring
3,500 mm (137 in) annually. In the high-altitude areas,
rain and snow reach 5,000 mm (197 in) annually. The
average annual temperature is 5°C (41°F).
Services
Park rangers.
Admission Fee
Adults: Chileans
$2,500 Chilean Pesos (Convert
to US Dollars); Foreigners $3,000 Chilean Pesos.
Children: Nationals $500 Chilean Pesos; Foreigners $1,000 Chilean Pesos. |
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