Puerto Piramides,
Argentina
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Peninsula Valdes is unique in the world for is perfect Southern Right Whale habitat. The perfect combination of nutrient-rich plankton, calm seas, sheltered gulf, and temperature make it one of the main birthing grounds for these enormous creatures. Luckily for tourism, the geography of the gulf make it quite easy for humans to see mothers nursing their new-born calves from the shore or expensive tour boat. Us, the classic cheapskates, decided to stay in the municipal campsite (conveniently located in a sand dune) and watch from the beach. But what a beach! About an hour´s walk down the shore from our tent was the most incredible, deserted beach, with caves, tide pools, whales galore, otherworldly moonscape surroundings, it was pretty much paradise. Nathan and I spent a little too much time in paradise and have some nasty sunburn to show for it, but it´s a small price to pay. Another two miles from our campsite was a Loberia, or sea lion colony. It wasn´t packed, exactly, but we got to see a few amazing sea lions (in Spanish they´re called sea wolves) and listen to the crazy noises they make. Or were those whale noises? The right whales swim so close that you can hear them from shore (a good way to spot one coming up for air or slapping his fluke.) While hanging out on our private beach (okay, there were two guys looking for sea shells), Nathan and were able to swim a hundred meters or so from a whale and her calf, a really incredible experience. I´d love to come back someday when I´m older and take one of the aforementioned whale boat rides. But while we can still run after them, I think we´ll stick to finding them ourselves.
Photos here! You can play a fun game of
find the sea lion
