Réserve provinciale Isla de los Estados

The Isla de los Estados and Año Nuevo Archipelago reserve is a protected area along Argentina's southern coast featuring isolated islands with diverse marine life and wild landscapes. The islands and surrounding waters create habitats for seabirds, seals, and other species that thrive far from human settlements.

The reserve was established in 2016 as a provincial protected area to safeguard the southern Atlantic marine ecosystem. This designation recognized the ecological importance of these islands and their role in preserving native wildlife populations.

The reserve integrates maritime heritage preservation with scientific research facilities, enabling researchers to study native wildlife populations and conduct environmental monitoring.

Access to the reserve requires special permits from provincial authorities and advance coordination with official agencies. Visitors should contact local administrators well ahead of their planned visit to arrange necessary approvals.

These islands serve as a major breeding site for the southern rockhopper penguin, with populations found nowhere else in such concentration. The protected islands provide safe nesting grounds where these birds return each season to raise their young.