- Province: Chubut
- Year of foundation: 1937
- Area: about 260 thousand hectares
- Height above sea level: 641 m
Los Alerses has long been recognized as one of the most beautiful and at the same time poorly studied reserves of Argentina , which attracts tourists with its amazing beauty of virgin rainforests, lakes and glaciers.
Location:
Los Alerses National Park is located 30 km from the cities of Bariloche and Esquel, in the Argentine province of Chubut.
History of creation
The park was founded in 1937 to protect massive tropical forests, primarily larches, which can grow up to 60 m in height and live up to 4 thousand years. Los Alerses is part of the biosphere reserve of Andino Norpatagonica. The national park itself occupies about 200 thousand hectares, other lands are protected areas.
What is interesting about Los Alerses?
In this park, the landscapes of dense rainforests, massive mountains with glaciers and picturesque lakes are surprisingly combined. All this creates a unique atmosphere of harmony with nature. On the territory of the reserve lie the lakes Futalaufken, Verde, Kruger, Rivadavia, Menendez and the river Arrananes. Especially beautiful is Lake Verde, the water surface of which, depending on the season, is painted in a fresh green color, then in bright red and yellow.
In addition, the reserve includes the ski resort of La Jolla (located 13 km from Esquel), so those who wish can also go there to spend time actively. The season of mountain skiing in these parts lasts from June to October.
Flora and fauna of the reserve
Since the park was conceived as a place to protect larch forests, then, of course, larch is the most common in Los Alerses. This is promoted by the climate, since for the year about 4 thousand mm of precipitation falls here, trees and the rest of the flora grow rapidly. Very ancient specimens of larch trees are represented in the reserve.
For example, near the Menendez lake you can see coniferous beauties, which are almost 4 thousand years old, they rise to 70 meters or more in height, and the thickness of the trunk reaches 3.5 m. In the east of Los Alerses, the forests are not so dense, they grow mainly here cypresses and myrtles. There are also trees and bushes brought here for breeding and atypical for these places, for example, wild rose, which in these conditions quickly grows, competing with the local flora.
As for representatives of wildlife and birds, in the Los Alerses National Park you can meet otters, deer, pumas, parrots, woodpeckers and other representatives. In the lakes are trout and salmon.
Excursions in Los Alerses Park
A circular Circuito Lacustre route is laid along the reserve. It is a combined trip, during which you will have the opportunity to visit the real tropical forest, passing the first part of the route on foot (along forest paths and hinged bridges).
Then tourists will transfer to boats, and the tour will continue along the picturesque lakes. In this part of the journey you can see from the beauty of dense deciduous forests, waterfalls and glaciers. Excursion to the National Park Los Alerses is surprisingly diverse and full of impressions.
How to get there?
Los Alerses National Park can be reached by taxi or by car from the nearby towns of San Carlos de Bariloche or Esquel, approximately 30 km away.