Andes, Cwm Hyfryd - Nature
Nant y Fall Nature Reserve, Cwm Hyfryd
Nant y Fall, meaning a stream of waterfalls, is a series of sparkling waterfalls that flow over a number of rock ledges in the midst of a cypress forest. The reserve is 24 kilometres (15 miles) from Trevelin and is 540 metres (1,750 feet) above sea level. It is replete with the region’s typical fauna and flora. The footpaths are about 1,600 metres (1 mile) in length and lead to viewpoints over Bro Hydref, Cwm Hyfryd, and across to Gorsedd y Cwmwl mountain and the remainder of the Andes chain of mountains.
Los Alerces National Park
The Los Alerces National Park, near Trevelin, is one of the largest in Argentina and has a land area of 263,000 hectares (650,000 acres – about the same size as the county of Gwynedd in North Wales). The park’s characteristic feature are the Alerces forests. There are very few traces of human activity and the park is bursting with magnificent landscapes, lakes, rivers and numerous waterfalls, all surrounded by the Andes mountains swathed in thick forests. The Alerce tree is a Patagonian cypress and some examples in the park approach 3,000 years of age and 70 metres (230 feet) in height.
One of the best ways to enjoy the Los Alerces National Park is by taking a lake cruise, which can be embarked on the shores of either Lago Futalaufquen or Lago Menéndez. You can take pleasure in the spectacle of the Torrecillas glacier as you navigate the numerous inlets of these beautiful lakes. On the distant shore of Lago Futalaufquen is a footpath that can be followed that leads to examples of the Alerce tree.
Lago Bagillt Nature Reserve, Cwm Hyfryd
Lago Bagillt is located 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Trevelin in Cwm Hyfryd. The reserve sits below the Cerro Cónico mountain that forms the limit with Chile. The journey to the lake is exciting and usually requires a 4x4 vehicle to travel from the access, off the main road, to the reserve. A distance of 18 kilometres (11 miles).
Cerro Cónico’s glacier is the source of the transparent waters of Lago Bagillt, which lies at an altitude of over 1,000 metres (3,280 feet). Because of the altitude, the fauna and flora of the reserve differs to those of other lakes surrounding Trevelin and those of the Los Alerces National Park. The best way to benefit from this attraction is by trekking to the area and enjoying leisurely moments while wandering around the reserve and lakeshore.
