Patagonia is a region of over 1 million square km – over four times the size of the UK and a third larger than Turkey. Approximately 90% of the region is in Argentina, with the rest in Chile. It sits at the south of South America and is surrounded by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans with the Andes providing a backbone down the western side and acting as a border. Over the years there have been various disputes over the border with the most recent being adjudictaed by the Pope in the 1980s. With a population of just under 2 million, it is one of the least populated areas of the world (similar to Mongolia).
Despite the mountains, most of the land is designated a steppe. The combination of mountains, steppes and oceans creates very varied weather condistions, frequently with all four seasons in a day. Although we visted in summer, we experienced sun, showers, snow and wind. Temperatures ranged from just above freezing to mid teens but with considerable wind chill at times. We soon discovered that a “Patagonian breeze” is the sort of wind that you have to lean into to stay upright !
Shilli-Fully Travels 