Punta Tombo

Penguins at Punta Tombo, Chubut.
A pair of Magellanic penguins protecting their nesting burrow

Punta Tombo is a peninsula into the Atlantic Ocean 110 km (68 mi) south of Trelew in Chubut Province, Argentina, where there is a large colony of Magellanic penguins - the largest such colony in South America. It is a short distance north of Camarones.

Natural reserve

The 2.1 km2 (0.8 sq mi) Punta Tombo Provincial Reserve has been protected since 1979, according to a provincial decree, and it is one of the main tourist attractions in Chubut. Punta Tombo is part of the new marine national park at Golfo San Jorge.

The 3 km (1.9 mi) long, 600 m (1,969 ft) wide peninsula is covered with sand, clay and gravel.

In late September, with the arrival of spring, thousands of Magellanic penguins migrate to Punta Tombo from southern Brazil to nest.[1] They stay at the site until April, incubating their eggs,[2] raising their chicks, and preparing for migration. Couples stand in front of their nests, protecting the eggs from birds and other predators, and occasionally one adult goes to the sea for food. Other important nearby colonies are Bahía Camarones and Cabo Dos Bahías.

A variety of other wildlife can be encountered in the area, including seabirds (mainly gulls and cormorants), rheas and guanacos.

In the 19th Century, British mariners knew Punta Tombo as "Tombas".[3]

See also

Citations and references

Citations
  1. ↑ (Spanish) http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/09/21/sociedad/s-04001.htm Clarin newspaper - Punta Tombo penguin trek
  2. ↑ C. Michael Hogan (2008) Magellanic Penguin, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
  3. ↑ Clayton (2014), Glossary of place names
References

External links

Coordinates: 44°02.4′S 65°12′W / 44.0400°S 65.200°W / -44.0400; -65.200


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