THE CHANGING FACE OF WEATHER- PATAGONIA

The Changing Face of Weather- February 2013- Patagonia

The lament of farmers everywhere, not just here, is how the climate seems to be changing. It was a common theme in conversations across the expansive Pampas of Patagonia. Lakes are drying up, sandstorms whip across the broad expanse of land, springs that once fed pasture are reduced in volume.

Four seasons can happen in a day and frequently do. Further south in Tierra del Fuego where the unceasing wind howls, people are complaining of not enough sun and summer fun has been curtailed. In an area already starved for warm weather it is bleak to imagine such a shortened season. It is still beautiful but too reminiscent of the Pacific northwest with gray skies and, well, you know the rest.

 

I am currently on Peninsula Valdez,(google map it)(very much south of Buenos Aires on the Atlantic)  that narrow isthmus of land that juts out into the southern Atlantic Ocean. The narrow spit bursts into a bubble of land that is a tourist destination for anyone interested in seeing Whales up close, Orcas that have developed ways of beaching themselves to gobble up unsuspecting baby seals. Sea Lions, Penguins and a host of land based animals like the Ostrich, Guanaco (llama like in appearance), armadillos, fox and hare. Sheep are also found here.                                                  

                                            Notice the strong and broad winds whipping up across a now dry lakebed.

Windswept barren landscape that is a World Heritage site, the ‘bubble of land’ has an almost enclosed golfo San Jose probably 40 kms across yet only open by 1 km. and several large depression salt flats in the middle of the Peninsula that are 100 feet below sea level. The Peninsula is cris- crossed by several gravel roads that lead to the predominate calving grounds of whales, sea lions and penguins.

A sign on a scraggly tree indicating that one day it will give shade if there is enough water to nurture it.

The Atlantic coast of Argentina. It is dry, predominately sand and uninteresting.