named after their big footsteps
Aonikenk Indians of great stature
YEAR OF THE Arrival of Charles Darwin
when Fernando de Magallanes, discoverer of the strait that bears his name, spotted the strong and tall people who were baptized as Patagones, by their great footsteps, giving origin thus to the name Patagonia.
This people were the Aonikenk, whose average height was 1.80 m. known for their great stature, these inhabitants were nomadic hunters, who entered when the ice of the last glaciation was removed. They occupied the steppes from the Santa Cruz River in Argentina, to the North, to the Strait of Magellan, to the South.
With the presence of European foreigners, the process of colonization and the creation of the Estancias (cattle ranches), the settlers and the Aonikenk affected the use of the same lands, which led to this original people migrating to more remote lands.
Between 1832 and 1834, Charles Darwin arrived in Patagonia aboard the Beagle boat, where he recorded the coast of Patagonia, the steppes and various mountains. In this expedition he collected enough material to generate his Theory of evolution and various contributions to palaeontology, anthropology, geology and zoology.
The southernmost region of Chile has a great offer to enjoy an unforgettable gastronomic route with food of the best level and good drinks, for all tastes, styles, and pockets. From typical patagonian cuisine to sophisticated preparations, Chilean Patagonia will allow you to have a culinary experience that you will hardly forget.
If you are in Punta Arenas, the must-sees of gastronomy are, without a doubt, a good hot chocolate and the classic “choripán” with milk w/ banana. For lunch or dinner a patagonian lamb, a very varied barbecue, various ways to prepare king crab, a fried black conger, southern hake, hare stews and sea urchins, among many other delicacies in the area .
These types of dishes can be found in the gastronomic district, between the Plaza de Armas and the waterfront, in the streets Errázuriz, O’Higgins, José Menéndez, Monseñor José Fagnano, and Francisco Sampaio Square.
In the Municipal Market of Punta Arenas is where the flavors and aromas of the sea meet. Here you can buy fresh products, such as seafood and fish. In the place, it is also possible to find cookeries with varied preparations.
Puerto Natales, meanwhile, has become an interesting gastronomic center, recognized for its delicacies that can be enjoyed in the different restaurants and pubs located in the city center and on the coastal board. In addition, visits are made to a craft brewery and a gin distillery, to taste its exquisite flavors.
In Tierra del Fuego the typical dish is the Patagonian Style Lamb Barbecue that you can find in restaurants and specially in the Patagonian Estancias (Patagonian ranches) and of course the King Crab.
While in Puerto Williams in Navarino Island, the must is tasting a fresh King Crab, very easy to find as in it costs is where usually is captured, we also recommend the fresh white wild fish like southern hake and conger.
In Magallanes province, kayaking in the waters of the mythical Strait of Magellan.
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