Valdes Peninsula

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Península Valdés
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Type Natural
Criteria x[1]
Reference 937
UNESCO region

Latin America and the Caribbean

Official name Valdes Peninsula Wetlands
Designated July 20, 2012 [2]
Inscription history
Inscription 1984 (8th Session)

The Valdes Peninsula (Spanish: Península Valdés) is a peninsula on the Atlantic coast in the Viedma 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.

Geography

Peninsula Valdés, photo taken during shuttle mission STS-68.
Whale watching
Whale in Valdes Peninsula

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).

Climate

Valdes Peninsula has a semi-arid climate.[3] It has a climate typical of northern Patagonia that is modified with interactions between atmospheric circulation patterns and the adjacent ocean.[4][5] 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.[3][5] The mean annual temperature is 10.6 °C (51.1 °F),[3] ranging from a mean monthly temperature of 8 °C (46.4 °F) in winter to 18 °C (64.4 °F) in summer.[5] 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.[3] Temperatures in the summer can fluctuate between 15 to 35 °C (59.0 to 95.0 °F).[3]

Mean annual precipitation is low, averaging 240 mm (9.4 in) although this is highly variable from year to year.[3] The interior of the peninsula receives slightly lower precipitation than the coastal areas, receiving 200 to 225 mm (7.9 to 8.9 in) per year.[4] Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year though April–June receives the most precipitation.[5][4] The El Niño Southern Oscillation strongly influences the climate of the peninsula.[5] During an El Niño year, precipitation is higher from November to February.[5]

Climate data for Punta Delgada Lighthouse, Valdes Peninsula
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.9
(96.6)		 35.6
(96.1)		 34.9
(94.8)		 30.1
(86.2)		 24.5
(76.1)		 20.9
(69.6)		 17.9
(64.2)		 21.9
(71.4)		 26.9
(80.4)		 30.4
(86.7)		 34.9
(94.8)		 37.2
(99)		 37.2
(99)
Average high °C (°F) 22.8
(73)		 23.2
(73.8)		 21.1
(70)		 18.6
(65.5)		 14.6
(58.3)		 12.2
(54)		 11.2
(52.2)		 11.6
(52.9)		 13.7
(56.7)		 17.2
(63)		 19.4
(66.9)		 21.8
(71.2)		 17.3
(63.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3)		 17.6
(63.7)		 16.1
(61)		 13.7
(56.7)		 10.8
(51.4)		 8.2
(46.8)		 7.1
(44.8)		 7.7
(45.9)		 9.2
(48.6)		 11.5
(52.7)		 13.8
(56.8)		 15.7
(60.3)		 12.4
(54.3)
Average low °C (°F) 13.1
(55.6)		 13.3
(55.9)		 12.0
(53.6)		 10.2
(50.4)		 7.0
(44.6)		 4.3
(39.7)		 3.6
(38.5)		 3.2
(37.8)		 5.5
(41.9)		 7.4
(45.3)		 9.8
(49.6)		 12.0
(53.6)		 8.5
(47.3)
Record low °C (°F) 5.1
(41.2)		 5.4
(41.7)		 4.3
(39.7)		 0.3
(32.5)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 −2.9
(26.8)		 −4.9
(23.2)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 1.6
(34.9)		 2.7
(36.9)		 −4.9
(23.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 13.9
(0.547)		 10.5
(0.413)		 23.5
(0.925)		 25.9
(1.02)		 25.0
(0.984)		 25.2
(0.992)		 27.9
(1.098)		 14.8
(0.583)		 16.5
(0.65)		 12.1
(0.476)		 13.1
(0.516)		 15.1
(0.594)		 223.5
(8.799)
Average relative humidity (%) 68.0 68.5 68.5 68.5 72.5 76.5 77.0 72.5 72.5 68.0 69.0 67.5 70.8
Source: Secretaria de Mineria[6]

Fauna

The coastline is inhabited by marine mammals, like sea lions, elephant seals and fur seals. Southern right whales can be found in Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José, protected bodies of water located between the peninsula and the Patagonian mainland. These baleen whales come here between May and December, for mating and giving birth, because the water in the gulf is quieter and warmer than in the open sea. Orcas can be found off the coast, in the open sea off the peninsula. In this area, they are known to beach themselves on shore to capture sea lions and elephant seals.

The inner part of the peninsula is inhabited by rheas, guanacos and maras. A high diversity and range of birds live in the peninsula as well; at least 181 bird species, 66 of which migratory, live in the area, including the Antarctic pigeon.

Southern right whale cavorting. 
Magellanic penguins 
Pichi 
Wild guanaco 
Argentine grey fox 

References

  1. ↑ Selection criteria: "to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation." "The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved February 2010. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. ↑ "Ramsar List". Ramsar.org. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ficha Informativa de los Humedales de Ramsar (FIR) – Versión 2009-2012" (PDF) (in Spanish). Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Location and Climate". Municipio de Puerto Pirámides. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Capítulo I: Caracterización y Antecedentes" (PDF). Plan de Manejo del Sistema Península Valdés (in Spanish). Administración Area Natural Protegida Península Valdés. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Provincia de Chubut - Clima Y Meteorologia: Datos Meteorologicos Y Pluviometicos" (in Spanish). Secretaria de Mineria de la Nacion (Argentina). Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
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Coordinates: 42°30′S 63°56′W / 42.500°S 63.933°W / -42.500; -63.933


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