Patagonia's Aysen Region Showcased

Aysen is Chile's most sparsely populated region, with a population density of less than one person per square kilometer. This isolation is a key reason for its pristine condition; it was the last major area to be integrated into the Republic of Chile, with significant settlement only beginning in the 20th century. The region's famous turquoise waters are best seen at Lago General Carrera, the second largest lake in South America, which straddles the Chile-Argentina border. The lake's unique color comes from glacial silt. Over thousands of years, its waves have carved the stunning Capillas de Mármol (Marble Chapels), a series of mineral formations accessible by boat or kayak. One of Aysen's most iconic sights is the Ventisquero Colgante, or Hanging Glacier, in Queulat National Park. This mass of ice clings to a cliff face, with waterfalls of meltwater plunging from its edge into the lake below. The park itself was established in 1983 to protect its temperate rainforests and dramatic mountain landscapes. Until the 1980s, Aysen was largely inaccessible by land from the rest of Chile. The Carretera Austral (Southern Highway), a 1,240-kilometer road built under the Pinochet regime, changed that. Its construction, which took over 20 years and involved 10,000 soldiers, opened the region to settlement and tourism. A significant portion of Aysen is protected land, thanks in part to the largest private land donation in history. Douglas Tompkins, founder of The North Face, and Kristine Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia, purchased vast tracts of land, which they later donated to the Chilean government to create Patagonia National Park in 2018. This network of parks, connected by the Carretera Austral, is part of the "Route of Parks," a 2,800-kilometer scenic route. The initiative aims to promote conservation and ecotourism, protecting ecosystems that range from the dry Patagonian steppe to evergreen forests.