Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument, Natural monument and prehistoric cave in Torres del Paine, Chile
This natural monument in Última Esperanza Province is known for its large cave formations and paleontological importance. The main cave opens with a wide arch into the mountain and forms several connected chambers of different sizes.
Hermann Eberhard found remains of an extinct sloth here in 1895, an animal that lived in Patagonia during the last ice age. His discovery triggered international scientific expeditions that recovered more fossils from earlier animal species.
The name Milodón refers to the extinct giant ground sloth whose life-size replica now stands at the cave entrance, helping visitors imagine the ancient fauna. Many travelers take photographs beside this reconstruction before exploring the cavern itself.
A walking trail leads from the parking area to the cave and smaller grottoes nearby, all well marked without major slopes. The paths are wide enough for wheelchairs at the main entrance, though the rear sections become more uneven.
Scientists found bones of extinct Hippidion horses, saber-toothed cats, and Macrauchenia ungulates from the Pleistocene alongside the sloth remains. This variety shows that the cave sheltered animals of different sizes and habits over long periods.
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Patagonia extends across the southern reaches of Chile and Argentina, encompassing a range of natural landscapes from active glaciers to volcanic peaks. The region presents a mixture of ice, stone and water, with national parks protecting thousands of square miles of undeveloped terrain. The land...
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