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del National Park is counted among the most remote yet
very beautiful places of the earth, having an unspoiled
feel about it. In 1978, Torres del Paine National Park
was adjudged a Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO and its
mountain ranges, lakes, diverse flora and fauna constitute
the major attraction of the place that tops the chart
of Chile sightseeing .
Initially, Torres del Paine National Park
belonged to the ranchers who were responsible for burning
up the forest in order to expand the pasture area. It
was then acquired by the government, but seems to be
going through a period of convalescence. One of the
major highlights of the park is the Paine Massif
whose origin can be traced back to twelve
million years. The highest peak shoots up to a height
of 3050 meters, but Cuernos del Paine
might appear more familiar as it features in almost
every picture of Torres del Paine National Park. The
park boasts of diverse vegetation that ranges from the
grasslands to the beech forests to the south. There
are some patches of the park that were too remote even
for the ranchers and still retains the pristine feel
about them. Among the animals who find a refuge in the
park, the Guanacos and the Rheas feature prominently.
The southern extreme of Torres del Paine National Park
abounds in glaciers, lakes, lagoons and rivers
. Sarmiento, Nordenskjold, Pehoe, Paine and
Dickson are worth a mention. The Dickson River has three
fascinating waterfalls, namely Paine, Salto Grande,
and Salto Chico. Hiking is the best way to explore a
park that coalesces varying elements together. Torres
del Paine National Park has hiking trails that
are safe and contains avoidable hitches. Lodges and
campgrounds dot the trails making it a bit more easy
for the trekkers. Other activities include climbing,
kayaking, river rafting and glacier crossing.
World Travel 4 Indians is an international travel site
and a repository of useful information on Torres
del Paine National Park and other places of
interest in Chile and other countries round the world.
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