Aysén
is the treasure chamber of
Chile,
if you consider its richness in nature, water, fish, and mineral
resources. On an area of over 106,977 square kilometres lives a
population of about 90,000. More than half of these live in
the regional capital of
Coyhaique.
A thinly inhabited stretch of land, one could say. Here, you can find
it all: from the steppe's (Pampa) over lush forests of Southern beech,
huge glaciers, Icefields, Lakes and mighty rivers to the arid
rainforests of the coastal areas, all this is here. The region lives
off the big salmon farms, cattle, a bit of farming, forestry, tourism
and the mining industry (mostly zinc, lead, silver, gold). For the
future, at least four big dams for huge powerplants are planned, with
all the side effects, which this might bring the local population and
of course the flora and fauna of the affected lands. But for so far
there are no nuclear powerplants in the region (nor in Chile), nor are
there any big environmental destructions which is a big plus.
But also there is no overland connection from the region to its
neighboring regions other than via Argentine lands. This is a proper
disadvantage, because it hinders development of the region, and makes
goods so much more expensive and unavailable here than in the central
part of Chile. If there is a medical emergency, which can not be
handled in the local hospitals, the patient(s) need to be transportet
either by ferry or airplane, but prices are high and many persons here
can not afford them. The minimum wage is 144,500 Chilean Pesos per
month, this calculates to under USD 280/month. The people in the region
are however friendly, wiling to help and have this very special
Patagonian touch - you wil see if you come here.
They needed - because of the remoteness of the area - to
develop special survival skills, and help each other more than some
would do elsewhere. That is why outside of the towns and villages theft
and attacks are almost unknown of, even in Cochrane you can leave your
bicycle without a lock, and will find it after hours - same place of
course. Despite of all this, it is necessary to be careful and have a
certain understanding of local customs. Tourists from the far and rich
countries of Europe and North America can get caught in the one or
other "trap" quite easily. But to prevent this happen to you, we wil do
our best.
The road system of the region consists out of mostly gravel roads
(2000km), metalled roads (ca. 200km, getting more every year) and 4WD
and other ways (maybe 600km). With a 4WD car, snow chains and the odd
winch one can almost go everywhere.
We do have a whole lot of rivers and creeks, the longest of them and
the one which carries most water to the sea is the
Rio Baker, with
370km lenght and a Caudal of 875 cubicmeters per second.
The
Lago
General Carrera is - together with the
Buenos Aires See
(this is how the Argentines part of the lake is called) the second
biggest lake of Southamerica, just behind of the
Titicacasee, and
apparently quite deep (they measured about a 1,000m). Our highest
summits are with 3910m (
San
Valentin o San Clemente) and 3706m (
San Lorenzo)
far lower than the mountains further to the North, but the Patagonian
climate and the remoteness of their whereabouts make them difficult to
access and climb. We have a rich flora, and every year new species get
discovered. On special places throughout the region one can observe a
huge amount of different species of birds, at some stages of the year.
Our rivers and creeks are famous for being some of the best
flyfishing grounds in the world.
Come and experience Patagonia, our region for yourself. There is so
much to discover, stuff that does not show up in a travel book, places
where no normal tourist coach or 4WD will ever go yet. There, where you
can almost reach a
Huemul
(Andean deer) or there where the
Condor circles
slowly and majestetic in the blue sky and there, where hospitality
still exists without a hindtought, there is our Patagonia,
our Region
Aysén.
If you click
here, you can see some photos - a colorfull mix - of the Region.
ColibriVentura 
