Exploring The Temperate Rain Forest

The cool temperate rain forests characteristic of Patagonia used to extend from the coast to the tree line of the Andes cordillera. Over the last century extensive clear-cutting, agricultural development, and urbanization have steadily reduced the size and integrity of these ancient forests. The private Reserva Huilo-Huilo and the neighboring Reserva Nacional Mocho-Choshuenco are two of only fourteen natural areas in Chile being protected from further destruction, along with twenty-five National Parks and one National Monument.

We set out from the Montana Magica to explore some of the forest on bicycles.

Temperate rain forests exist because strong westerly winds off the Pacific in combination with the Humboldt Current bring ashore moisture and fog in a narrow band between the coast and the mountains.

This October day was no exception.

We turned back at the ferry dock in Puerto Fuy on Lake Pirihueico. The ferry takes cars the length of the lake to a road at the other end that crosses the border into Argentina.

At the bridge over the Rio Fuy we opted for caution and walked our bikes across.

The crossing gave us a chance to be impressed by the force of the spring runoff down a river we intended to raft a few days later the following week.

An average between three to five meters of rain falls each year in these lush green forests.

Some of the local people from the town of Neltume contributed their woodworking skills to create sculptures that decorate the forest reserve.

We found this forest dweller on the way to see the big waterfall of the Rio Fuy.

Here we are posing in our ponchos at the base of the falls.

Salto Huilo-Huilo