Scientists at Work: Exploring Chilean Patagonia’s Fjords

Podcast July 26, 2019

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Stat: 80,000. Chilean Patagonia has more than 80,000 kilometers of coastline, the longest in the world.

Story: In the latest installment of our “Scientists at Work” series, Pew marine fellow Vreni Häussermann talks about Chilean Patagonia’s diverse ecosystem. The region is a near-pristine wilderness like no other—but this mostly unexplored wilderness is at risk. Häussermann hopes her research will help support efforts to secure a sustainable future for Chilean Patagonia and the marine life in its fjords.

Related Resources:

Vreni Häussermann, Ph.D. Directory of Pew Marine Fellows | The Pew Charitable Trusts
To Protect Patagonia’s World-Class Parks, Chile Turns to Public-Private Partnership | The Pew Charitable Trusts
Protection of Chilean Patagonia Grew in 2018 but Work Remains | The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Bernal glacier is part of the Southern Patagonian ice field (the Campo de Hielo Sur), extensions of which are estimated to be more than 30,000 years old.

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The Bernal glacier is located in Kawésqar National Park in Chile. The second-largest national park in the country, it includes more than 7 million acres of protected land and nearly 6.5 million acres of surrounding marine protected areas.

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Pockets form in the ice of the Bernal glacier to create dense cavelike structures. Chilean Patagonia has various climates, from the southwestern ice fields and rainforests to the treeless plains of the north.

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A lagoon in Kawésqar National Park is surrounded by Patagonian cypress trees. This unique tree is evolutionarily distinct from other species within its family and tends to grow in areas affected by volcanic activity.

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Chilean Patagonia is sparsely populated, but some people make a living within its rugged beauty. Close to the port city of Puerto Natales, a man leads his horse to a pasture. With its proximity to the imposing Torres del Paine mountains and Torres del Paine National Park, the city is a popular destination for tourists.

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Once known for its sheep and cattle farming, Puerto Natales is now a popular destination for visitors to Chilean Patagonia. Above, several local fishing boats rest at anchor close to the town’s shores.

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Chilean Patagonia’s extensive marine biodiversity includes this kelp forest floating in Kawésqar National Park’s waters.

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Central to Chilean Patagonia’s beauty is its changeable climate. The region is a striking juxtaposition of ice-capped mountains and rainforests.

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