Los Alerces National Park, National park in Chubut Province, Argentina.
Los Alerces National Park is a protected area in the Patagonian Andes covering roughly 2,600 square kilometers with mountains, glacial lakes, flowing rivers, and thick temperate forests. The landscape transitions from lower valleys to higher peaks, creating diverse habitats throughout the region.
The Argentine government declared this area a national park in 1937 to protect ancient Fitzroya cupressoides trees, some of which exceed 3,600 years in age. The creation responded to threats from logging and the need to preserve these slow-growing species for future generations.
The Mapuche people have called these ancient trees 'lahuan,' reflecting their spiritual bond with the forest across many centuries.
The park is most easily reached from the nearby town of Esquel, with summer months from December to March offering the best conditions for hiking and camping. Trails vary in difficulty, and weather in this mountain region can change rapidly, so visitors should come prepared.
The park contains one of the largest recorded alerce trees, standing about 57 meters tall and reachable by boat from Puerto Sagrario on Lake Menendez. This massive specimen is a primary draw for visitors seeking to witness the scale and antiquity of these extraordinary organisms.
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