Península Valdés, Argentina

Abstract

Península Valdés is in Patagonia, southern Argentina. It is a flat-topped promontory protruding like an island 120 km into the Atlantic Ocean, linked to the continent by a narrow isthmus. The peninsula has an arid climate, with only 232 mm/year of precipitation. The coastal area is characterized by the presence of rocky seacliffs, a series of gulfs and shallow bays, beaches, dunes, marshes, mudflats, and salt pans. The site is of global significance for the conservation of marine mammals. It has a large concentration of southern right whales, an endangered species. It is also important because of the breeding populations of southern elephant seals and southern sea lions. The orcas in this area have developed a unique hunting strategy to adapt to local coastal conditions.