Francisco Coloane Coastal and Marine Protected Area, Marine protected area in Magellan Strait, Chile.
The Francisco Coloane Marine Protected Area covers sea waters in the Magellan Strait and includes Carlos III island along with different marine habitats. The site offers opportunities to observe whales and other sea creatures in their natural surroundings.
The Chilean government created this marine protected area in 2003 to safeguard important feeding and breeding zones for sea animals. The decision aimed to protect the sensitive ecosystems of the Magellan region from harm.
The protected area takes its name from Francisco Coloane, a Chilean writer who chronicled maritime adventures and life in the Patagonian region. Visitors connecting with this place engage with a landscape that shaped the literary imagination of someone deeply tied to these waters.
To visit the area, you need permits and can book guided boat tours from October through March. These months offer the best conditions for observing marine life.
Scientists have documented and tracked nearly 200 individual humpback whales by recognizing each one through their unique tail fluke patterns. This long-term tracking helps researchers understand how these animals move seasonally in and out of the region.
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