A recent trip to Patagonia had Dr Iroshini Chua thinking not only about the beauty of the stunning country, but also about the ever-increasing threat global warming poses on such breathtaking sights
We had traversed through snow, sun, rain and 70 kilometers per hour gusts of wind, all in the space of 20-minutes on our drive towards Eolo, our lodge in Patagonia. It became apparent that inquiring about the weather forecast in Patagonia was likened to asking what one’s future might hold and was met with the same bemused response, “In Patagonia, the weather changes so fast it’s impossible to predict.” I turned to our driver and decided upon a question which might yield a more definitive answer. “Where is the most scenic area of Argentina?” “Well you are here. Patagonia of course,” he answered confidently.
Patagonia is widely celebrated as one of the most beautiful places in Latin America, a fiercely wild and unsullied region that is shared by Chile and Argentina. It is home to dramatic jagged ice-capped mountains, plains that stretch to infinity, Lenga forests that grace the slopes and stunning glaciers that carve into icy lakes with a resounding roar. Driving through a landscape dotted with flamingo filled lagoons and red foxes that dashed into the bush, we watched the condors with their three-meter wingspan soar and glide above us in search of carrion.