Peninsula Valdes
| Península Valdés | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
 |
|
| Location | Argentina |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | x |
| Reference | 937 |
| UNESCO region | |
| Official name | Valdes Peninsula Wetlands |
| Designated | July 20, 2012 |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1984 (8th Session) |
Latin America and the Caribbean
The Valdes Peninsula (Spanish: Península Valdés) is a peninsula on the Atlantic coast in the Biedma Department in the north east of Chubut Province, Argentina. Around 3,625 km2 (896,000 acres; 1,400 sq mi) in size (not taking into account the isthmus of Carlos Ameghino which connects the peninsula to the mainland), it is an important nature reserve which was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.
The nearest large town is Puerto Madryn. The only town on the peninsula is the small settlement of Puerto Pirámides. There are also a number of estancias, where sheep are raised.
Most of the peninsula is barren land with some salt lakes. The largest of these lakes is at an elevation of about 40 m below sea level (see extremes on Earth), until recently thought to be the lowest elevation in Argentina and South America (the lowest point actually being Laguna del Carbón, Argentina).
Valdes Peninsula has a semi-arid climate. It has a climate typical of northern Patagonia that is modified with interactions between atmospheric circulation patterns and the adjacent ocean. The peninsula is located between the subtropical high pressure belt (located at 30oS) and the subpolar low pressure zone (located between 60o–70oS), resulting in the wind being predominantly from the west. The mean annual temperature is 10.6 °C (51.1 °F), ranging from a mean monthly temperature of 8 °C (46.4 °F) in winter to 18 °C (64.4 °F) in summer. During winter, temperatures fluctuate between 0 to 15 °C (32.0 to 59.0 °F) with frosts being common, averaging 12–20 days during the season. Temperatures in the summer can fluctuate between 15 to 35 °C (59.0 to 95.0 °F).
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Wikipedia