Gudrun's photos with the keyword: Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Laguna Verde and Monte Almirante Nieto (2640m) seen from Estancia Lazo. I needed a bit of fresh air in the current heat;-) HFF and a have a good weekend!

Nothofagus pumilio (Lenga-Südbuche) mit dem parasitären Pilz Cyttaria hariotii, auch Pan del Indio (Indianerbrot) bzw. in der Mapuche-Sprache Llao Llao genannt. Dieser Pilz war ein wichtiges Nahrungsmittel für die indigenen Völker Patagoniens und wurde roh verzehrt. Die Südbuchen wehren sich durch Gallbildung gegen den Pilz, das befallene Holz (s. PiP) wird gerne zum Schnitzen verwendet. Nothofagus pumilio (Lenga) with parasitic fungus Cyttaria hariotii. This mushroom was a staple food eaten raw by Patagonian indigenous people and is commonly called Pan del Indio (Indian's bread) or Llao Llao in the Mapuche language. Nothofagus defend themselves against the fungus with gall production, that wood (see PiP) is often used for carving. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyttaria_hariotii

"Papa Choique" on the other side of the road from his chicks, against the backdrop of the granite needles of Torres del Paine. HFF everybody! ( I'm away on an Iper -meeting but will catch up next week)

A group of young Darwin's rheas ( rhea pennata , called choique in Patagonia). The males incubate the eggs and look after the young- in this case the male was just on the other side of the road.

On the path from Refugio Pehoe to Valle Francés with Cuernos del Paine looming in the background. The wind was freshening up seriously

Cuernos and Valle Francés seen from Rio Serrano. Getting up early to see the sunrise turn the mountains red was an exercise in futility- no reds, only shades of grey;-)

That truck at Estancia Lazo is still in use for transporting sheep!

Cuernos del Paine and Almirante Nieto seen across Laguna Verde from Estancia Lazo. HFF!

Guanacos are camelids native to South America. They can be found in arid areas like the Altiplano and Patagonia. In Argentinean Patagonia you usually only see them running from a distance whereas in Torres del Paine they are protected and therefore more numerous and less shy.

Typical windy weather at Laguna Azul. Clouds have descended on Torres del Paine Massif, only Cerro Almirante Nieto (Paine chico) on the left can be seen.

Cuernos del Paine seen across Lago Pehoe. The mountains in the National Park are of granite, heavily eroded by glaciers. The Cuernos are special in that they still have a shale layer on top.

In February 2005 a careless backpacker started a distastrous fire when his cooker was blown over, destroying 155 km² of the national park and 2 km² of native forest. Considering that nothofagus in this climate takes centuries to grow this was a major disaster which was repeated in 2011 when another backpacker caused a fire which destroyed 176 km²/36km² arround Lago Pehoe. Fines for tourists are still ridiculously low but at least the Czech and Israeli governments donated money for reforestation after their citizens caused the damage.