Page 251 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

P A T A GONIA  249

A herd of guanaco wandering on the vast Patagonian steppe near Tres Lagos
@ Gobernador £ Lago Cardiel $ Tres Lagos
Gregores Road map B5. 43 miles (70 km) W Road map B6. 108 miles (174km) S of
of Gobernador Gregores. @ Gobernador Gregores. * 200. @ 
Road map B5. 218 miles (352km) S of
Perito Moreno. * 3,500. @ n Ave n Ave San Martín & Ruperto The tiny settlement of Tres
San Martín & Ruperto Barrenchea, Barrenchea, Gobernador Gregores; Lagos owes its name to its
(02962) 491-228. (02962) 491-192.
proximity to the lakes Viedma,
The clear turquoise waters of San Martín, and Tar. The town
Situated in the middle of Lago Cardiel are easy to spot for was originally founded to serve
the windy Patagonian steppe, those traveling along Ruta the sheep ranches that could
deep in sheep territory, Nacional 40. The lake is be found around the three
Gobernador Gregores is overlooked by the dramatic lakes. Wool from the estancias
characteristic of the many iso- peak of Mount El Puntudo, would be brought to Tres
lated settlements that dot the and stands out from the Lagos where it was loaded
southern stretch of Ruta surrounding steppe, pro viding onto wagons for the two-
Nacional 40. A farming town welcome relief for eyes grown month long jour ney to the
that was once an important accustomed to scrub grass and port at Puerto Santa Cruz on
stopover for landowners trans- flat plains. The colorful colonies the Atlantic coast. More
porting wool from the Andes of black-necked swans and pink prosaically, this remote settle-
to the ports on the Atlantic flamingos that inhabit the lake’s ment today serves mainly the
coast, its chief attractions today shores can also be seen from motorists traveling along Ruta
are the working estancias that the roadside. Nacional 40, its gas station
dot the sur rounding landscape. Brimming with rainbow trout being the only one on the long,
As well as farming sheep, and salmon, the lake is a prime empty stretch of highway
these beautiful ranches pro vide spot for angling. The nearby between Bajo Caracoles and
visitors isolation and relaxation, estancias can make arrange- El Calafate (see p251). It also has
together with activi ties such as ments for excursions. a free municipal campsite.
horse riding, bird-watching,
and fishing. Estancia La
Angostura, in the same family
since 1878, and Estancia Río
Capitán (see pp310–11) are two
of the most recommen ded.
Motorists driving along Ruta
Nacional 40 should note that
the town, situated 45 miles
(72 km) off the national high-
way, pro vides basic accommo-
dations and also has the only
gas station between Bajo
Caracoles to the north and Tres
Lagos to the south, a stretch
of over 248 miles (400 km). Flamingos over the turquoise waters of Lago Cardiel

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