Patagonia
Geographical region in southern South America spanning Argentina and Chile.
Patagonia is a geographical region in southern South America spanning parts of Argentina and Chile. It includes the southern portion of the Andes mountain range, featuring lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and glaciers in the west, and deserts, tablelands, and steppes toward the east. The region is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and several waterways that connect them, including the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, and the Drake Passage to the south.
- location
- Southern South America, spanning Argentina and Chile
- northern_limit_argentina
- Colorado and Barrancas rivers
- northern_limit_chile
- Huincul Fault, Araucanía Region
- indigenous_groups
- Tehuelche, Mapuche, Huilliche, Cuncos, Chono, among others
- economy_argentina
- Sheep farming, oil and natural gas extraction
- economy_chile
- Fishing, salmon aquaculture, tourism
- largest_ice_fields
- Southern Hemisphere outside Antarctica
Lore & Background
When Spanish explorers first arrived, Patagonia was inhabited by several indigenous groups. In a small portion of northwestern Patagonia, some communities practiced limited agriculture, while in the remaining territory most peoples lived as hunter-gatherers—travelling on foot in the eastern plains and using dugout canoes and dalcas in the western fjords and channels. During the colonial period, the indigenous groups of northeastern Patagonia adopted a horseback-based nomadic lifestyle following the reintroduction of the horse. Spanish explorers undertook several expeditions and established settlements, while the Spanish Crown was chiefly concerned with preventing rival European powers from gaining a foothold in the region for strategic reasons. After gaining independence, both Chile and Argentina asserted sovereignty over the territories to their south and began to colonize their Patagonian claims throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. This expansion led to a severe decline in indigenous populations, whose societies were disrupted by settling immigrants from Argentina, the Chiloé Archipelago, mainland Chile, and Europe. Indigenous resistance to the colonization was ultimately crushed by a series of military campaigns carried out by Argentina and Chile.
Reader's Guide
Argentine researcher Miguel Doura observed that the name possibly derives from the ancient Greek region of Paphlagonia, a hypothesis published in a 2011 New Review of Spanish Philology report. The region is divided between Western Patagonia (Chile) and Eastern Patagonia (Argentina), with several territories still under dispute. Due to language, culture, and location, many Patagonians do not consider themselves Latinos and proudly call themselves Patagonians instead. People from Y Wladfa, Laurie Island, the Atlantic Islands, Antarctica, and other non-Latin speaking areas use this term as a patriotic and inclusive demonym. The contemporary economy of Argentine Patagonia is largely based on sheep farming and the extraction of oil and natural gas, while in Chilean Patagonia the economy is dominated by fishing, salmon aquaculture, and tourism.
Did You Know?
- The people Magellan called Patagons are now believed to have been the Tehuelche, who tended to be taller than Europeans of the time.
- In Chubut Province, the name comes from the word 'chupat' meaning transparency, related to the clarity of the river.
- Welsh settlers and placenames in Patagonia are associated with one of the projects of the country of Wales, Project Hiraeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Patagonia in the Plateaus and Plains list?
Patagonia is a vast geographical region in southern South America that stretches across parts of both Argentina and Chile. It encompasses the southern stretch of the Andes and is bounded by the Pacific to the west, the Atlantic to the east, and major waterways such as the Strait of Magellan and Drake Passage to the south.
What kinds of landscapes does Patagonia include?
The western side features lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and glaciers, while the eastern side transitions into deserts, tablelands, and open steppes. This dramatic contrast within a single region makes it one of the most geographically diverse entries on the list.
Which indigenous groups are associated with Patagonia?
Several peoples have called this region home over the centuries, including the Tehuelche, Mapuche, Huilliche, Cuncos, and Chono. Their long histories of adapting to the region's varied terrain form a central part of Patagonia's cultural identity.
What does the economy look like in Patagonia?
On the Argentine side, economic activity centers on sheep farming along with oil and natural gas extraction, while the Chilean side leans more heavily on fishing, salmon aquaculture, and tourism. The region's dramatic scenery and abundant waterways drive much of its commercial life.
Where are Patagonia's northern boundaries?
In Argentina, the region's northern edge is marked by the Colorado and Barrancas rivers, while in Chile it is defined by the Huincul Fault in the Araucanía Region. These lines separate Patagonia from the more temperate zones to the north.
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