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Patagonia -

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who worked for Spain, was the first European to go to Patagonia in 1519. It was Magellan and his crew who gave the area the name Patagonia.

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Big feet -

When they arrived, they encountered the Tehuelche people, who were only slightly taller than Europeans. Nevertheless, the Spanish called them patagones meaning "big feet." The name obviously stuck.

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Where is it? -

Known as the edge of the world, Patagonia is the southernmost area of South America. It covers Chile and Argentina, and contains all kinds of terrains from snowy mountain peaks to rocky beaches.

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Road trip - The best way to go through the many wonders of Patagonia is to rent a car. If you start in Buenos Aires, you can take the long drive down the Ruta Nacional 3 to Rio Gallegos. Ruta Nacional 3 is pretty scenic and will take you by many cute towns.

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Argentina - Argentina has the largest share of Patagonia at 90%. It's famous for its luxuriant greenery, rare wildlife, and a variety of terrains. There are many animals such as the Patagonian fox and the Patagonian hog-nosed skunk that you will not find anywhere else on the planet.

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Welsh influence -

If you are plodding around the Chubut region, you may come across a settlement called Y Wladfa. In 1865, a group of Welsh immigrants created their own Welsh world in Patagonia in order to preserve the Welsh culture in the Americas.

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Dinosaurs -

There are a wealth of fossils in Patagonia. It is here that they found “The Last Titan.” The Rapetosaurus Krausei is a member of the Titanosauria family, and is the largest terrestrial animal family known to man.

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Magellanic penguins - As you may have guessed, these critters are named after Ferdinand Magellan. Fun fact: these penguins only mate with one penguin for their whole life.

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Seals - The southern elephant seal is extremely heavy. The average male weighs 3.5 tonnes! If you head on over to Península Valdés in Patagonia, you'll come across a beach lined with these fascinating animals.

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Cabo Vírgenes -

Cabo Vírgenes means "Cape of the Virgins." It was named this because on the day that Ferdinand Magellan first came across Patagonia, it was the feast of Saint Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins. It's a great place to see sea life.

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Los Andes - This mountain range runs all the way up South America and is the highest mountain range other than in Asia.

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Cerro Fitz Roy -

On the border between the Chilean and Argentinian sides of Patagonia, you will find Cerro Fitz Roy peak, a glorious mountain. In Spanish, cerro means ridge. More poetically in the language of the Teheleuche, it is called El Chaltén, which means "smoking mountain."

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Los Glaciares National Park - Cerro Fitz Roy is in the Los Glaciares National Park, where you will find towering mountains and incredible views. It's the perfect place for a long hike.

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Lago Argentino - Within the park, you will also find Lago Argentino. It is the largest freshwater lake in Argentina, and is completely clear because the water comes directly from the glacier. You will also see these incredible natural ice sculptures.

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Perito Moreno - This ginormous glacier is part of an ice field that is the world’s third-largest source of freshwater. It is colossal and quite intimidating to see. Unfortunately, the glacier is fading fast, due to climate change.

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Ruta Nacional 40 - If you go down Argentina on Ruta Nacional 3, you can go up through Chile on the Ruta 40. It is wonderfully scenic and runs all the way from southern Argentina to the most northern part of Chile.

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Route of the Seven Lakes - If you do not want to do the whole Ruta 40, then you can just do it for the Seven Lakes portion. As the name suggests, you go by seven gorgeous lakes, as well as lush greenery.

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San Martín de los Andes - In the area of Río Negro lies the town of San Martín de Los Andes. It's a great place as a base for a camping or hiking experience, and is conveniently on the Ruta 40.

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Valle de Los Patos - The passage through the Andes between Argentina and Chile is steeped in history. It is here that the Army of the Andes crossed in 1817 to liberate Chile from Spanish rule. It is also very beautiful.

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Fishing - One of the best activities you can do in Patagonia is fishing. In crystal clear water you can fly fish a variety of trout and salmon.

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San Carlos de Bariloche - Also just known as Bariloche, this adorable town is nestled in the foothills of the Andes. Tourists flock in for its incredible skiing. You can also have an ice skate on the frozen lakes nearby.

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Lake Cholila - From the Tigres river comes the beautiful Lake Cholila. It is said that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid here for a while in a cabin. You can ride horses around the area to explore.

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Cueva de las Manos - Tourists come from all around the world to see one of the first artworks ever recorded. It dates back to around 7300 BCE and is located in the province of Santa Cruz.

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Torres del Paine -

Now we can cross over to the Chilean side of Patagonia where you will find the Cordillera del Paine, a very interestingly shaped mountain range.

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Horse riding - You can find your way around all the Patagonian rivers, lakes, and mountains on horseback. There is a big culture of horseback riding here, so don’t feel shy to ask the locals about it.

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Cowboys - Being a cowboy in Patagonia is actually still a job, except they are called gauchos. They are highly-skilled horsemen who herd the cattle and are knowledgeable about the harsh landscape.

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Marble Chapels - General Carrera Lake (also known as Lake Buenos Aires) is home to these glorious mineral formations. The blue marble has been eroded by the water to form dazzling ceilings fit for a cathedral.

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Punta Arenas - This city is one of the most southern cities in the whole world. There are more than 100,000 inhabitants, and so if you feel like you are missing the cosmopolitan life in the mountains, you can have a little city break here.

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Food -

The cuisine in Patagonia is hearty and rugged. A famous dish is the asado, where an animal is cut through the middle and roasted whole on an open fire. It can't really get fresher than that.

Sources: (Mental Floss) (The Guardian) (Lonely Planet)

See also:Amazing European forests you'll want to explore

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