Argentina has announced the creation of Patagonia Azul Provincial Park, a vast marine sanctuary in the southern province of Chubut.
Spanning an incredible 729,000 acres (300,000 hectares) – an area roughly the size of Yosemite National Park – this is Chubut’s very first marine provincial park, and it's set to protect one of the most wildlife-rich corners of the South Atlantic Ocean.
Patagonia Azul Provincial Park
Patagonia Azul, or 'Blue Patagonia', is a wild, windswept coastline in south-east Argentina. It’s a critical hotspot for feeding, breeding and migration for a dazzling array of marine life – but until now, it’s been increasingly vulnerable to threats such as industrial fishing.
The new park draws a protective blue line around over 60 islands and islets, kelp forests and rugged coastal habitats.
These waters are home to more than 50 species of seabirds, including Magellanic penguins, giant petrels and imperial cormorants. Beneath the surface, seals, sea lions and humpback and sei whales find refuge.
“This is a resounding win for marine conservation," says Sofia Heinonen, Executive Director of Rewilding Argentina, the conservation group behind much of the effort.
"Patagonia Azul places under legal protection one of the most biodiverse areas of the Argentine Sea."
A scenic coastal road now connects the park’s key attractions, stretching from Cabo Dos Bahías down to Bahía Bustamante. Visitors can explore quiet beaches, camp under the stars, and set off by boat to uninhabited islands, guided by local tour operators in search of penguins, whales and other wild encounters.
Plans are already underway to build trails, campsites, a biological station and marine access points, making it easier for people to connect with the sea and its incredible wildlife.
Main image: Humpback whale in Patagonia Azul. Credit: Maike Friedrich - Rewilding Argentina
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