Valdes Peninsula

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Península Valdés


State Party = ARG
Type = Natural
Criteria = x
ID = 937
Region = Latin America and the Caribbean
Year = 1999
Session = 23rd
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/937

The Valdes Peninsula (Spanish Península Valdés) is a peninsula along the Atlantic coast in the Viedma Department in the north east of Chubut Province, Argentina. Its size is about 3,625 km². The nearest large town is Puerto Madryn.Most of the peninsula is barren land with some salt lakes. The largest of these lakes is at an elevation of about 40 m below sea level, until recently thought to be the lowest elevation in Argentina and South America. (The lowest point being Laguna del Carbón, Argentina).

It is an important nature reserve which was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.The coastline is inhabited by marine mammals, like sea lions, elephant seals and fur seals. Southern right whales can be found in Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José, protected bodies of water located between the peninsula and the Patagonian mainland. These baleen whales come here between May and December, for mating and giving birth, because the water in the gulf is quieter and warmer than in the open sea. Orcas can be found off the coast, in the open sea off the peninsula. In this area, they are known to beach themselves on shore to capture sea lions and elephant seals.

The inner part of the peninsula is inhabited by rheas, guanacos and maras. A high diversity and range of birds live in the peninsula as well; at least 181 bird species, 66 of which migratory, live in the area, including the Antarctic Pigeon.

External links

* [http://www.caracara.org/birding/archi00/trip_peninsula_valdez.html Peninsula Valdez] trip report
* [http://www.puertopiramides.gov.ar/ Puerto Pirámides' Official Page] Whale watching in Península Valdés
* [http://www.pnor.org/ Punta Norte Orca Research] Conservation Group at the Peninsula Valdes