Does over 1,200km of dirt roads through unspoiled wilderness of glacial rivers, snowcapped peaks, fjords and impenetrable forests sound like your kind of once in a lifetime adventure? If so, the Carretera Austral is for you!
While the diverse and untouched landscape of Chile’s route 7 has captured the hearts of many intrepid travelers, the Carretera Austral is full of surprising secrets that only compel people to explore Patagonia even more...
Key Takeaways – Surprising Facts About Patagonia’s Carretera Austral
- The Carretera Austral stretches more than 1,200 kilometers through some of Chilean Patagonia’s wildest landscapes.
- Lake O’Higgins reaches 836 meters deep, making it the deepest lake in the Americas.
- The tiny Patagonian dragon survives on glaciers where remarkably few insects can live.
- Patagonia’s Carretera Austral blends extraordinary geology, archaeology, wildlife, history, and enduring local legends.
1.) The Naming of Patagonia
It’s thought that Patagonia was named so after the mysterious Patagones people. Early explorers reported large human footprints and, as such, named the country, the land of the big feet.
2.) The Land of Giants
Spanish explorers claimed that the Patagonian people were at least twice the height of normal humans, leading to the belief that Patagonia was a land of giants. It’s now believed that they were simply exaggerating the size difference between the short Spaniards and tall natives.
3.) The Patagonian Dragon
The glaciers and ice fields of the Aysen and Magallanes regions are home to the Patagonian Dragon. With a body made from a natural antifreeze, it lives where other insects can’t, feeding on icy bacteria and algae. Andiperla willinki is a tiny flightless stonefly, around 15 mm long, adapted to life in Patagonia's icy environment. Recent IUCN reporting describes it living on glacial ice and feeding on microalgae.
4.) The Strangest Dinosaurs Ever Discovered
Chilesaurus diegosuarezi is one of Patagonia’s strangest dinosaur discoveries. This plant-eater combined an extraordinary mix of anatomical features associated with different dinosaur groups, making its place on the dinosaur family tree a subject of scientific debate.
Download our detailed month-by-month guide to discover which animals you can see and what weather to expect.
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5.) The Deepest Lake in the Americas
At the end of the Carretera Austral is Lake O’Higgins. At 836m, it’s the deepest lake in the Americas and the fifth deepest in the world. The gorgeous turquoise color comes from glacial sediment at its southern end.
6.) The Name’s Confuse Everyone!
Arrive at Puerto Aysén expecting a quaint port village and you won’t find it! This port town is now unsuitable for large boats and ships after river sediment made the water too shallow. The same goes for Caleta Tortel (Tortel Cove), where visitors often arrive eager to feast on fresh fish but the economy is actually driven by Cypress wood extraction.
7.) See 8000-Year-Old Rock Art
The basin of Lake General Carrera is full of archaeological paintings depicting traditional hunting methods, handprints and native animals.
8.) Search for the Golden City
The mythical ‘City of the Caesars’ is apparently located somewhere along the Carretera Austral. Legend has it that the town was a utopia of perfect health and abundant food, filled with golden furniture and beautiful people.
9.) Friendship Island
Friendship Island, off Patagonia’s south western coast, became known in 1985 after claims that Nordic-looking aliens healed a man of cancer and mystery still abounds!
10.) Experience the Legacy of Father Ronchi
The beloved and self-proclaimed ‘radical priest’ Father Ronchi’s works can be seen throughout the Aysén region. He was responsible for building towns, schools, and wind turbines to bring electricity to remote regions. Legend has it that he pulled food for the needy from his miraculous cassock. Below is an image of Father Ronchi's chapel in Villa O'Higgins in Chile.
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