Thursday, June 7, 2012

Cerro Castillo and Other Craggy Places Between Coyhaique and Cochrane, Chile

Alphabe-Thursday time again, and we continue our exploration of Patagonia, Chile from A-Z. This week, as we celebrate the letter C, we’ll be taking a little tour of the craggy peaks, known as cerros in Spanish, in the region between Coyhaique (pronounced coy-eye-kay) and Cochrane. There are lots of cerros, including Cerro Castillo (castle peak).

Coyhaique is the capitol of the XIth region of Chile, or the Aysén region. It is the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, and lies about 1000 miles south of Santiago. It is a small, but growing frontier community with about 50,000 people calling it home.

Cochrane lies about 120 miles further south along the Carretera Austral (or southern highway). The road was built during Pinochet’s regime in the late 1970s, finally connecting the remote southern part of Chile with the rest of the country. (The idea of calling the carretera a highway is kind of a joke, since it IS the major highway running north and south in the region, but it is mostly dirt - dirt with huge potholes – and barely wider than a single lane for much of its 700 mile length.)























Cerro San Valentin, the highest peak in the region at 13,300'...and my favorite. I never tire of looking at it, especially as the light constantly changes on it.
















Well, that's it for now. Be sure to stop by Mrs. Jenny's and see what the other Alphabetarians cooked up for your viewing and reading pleasure this week.


12 comments:

Susan Anderson said...

These views are magnificent, Anita!

=)

The Poet said...

My dear Anita,
I love your "virtual" tours. Fabulous photos! Thanks for sharing.

Complicated Dreams

Ames said...

Wow I could sit and look at the scenery for hours on end. Did you feel any earth quakes down there when you were there? Patagonia looks like a mystical place. What brought you to Patagonia? Vacation? ~Ames

Cathy said...

Amazing peaks. Make the Alps look tame in comparison.

Debbie said...

Those photos and, of course, their subjects, are absolutely STUNNING. I would have to just sit there and stare if I were there.

I also love the idea of Chile from A to Z. That's really clever and a great way to showcase.

Pondside said...

Loved this! Chili is so very beautiful. We made it to Coyhaique but not to Cochrane. Perhaps there will be another Chilean adventure for me!

Anonymous said...

Wow, Anita! These are beautiful! I want to go to Chile!

ellen b. said...

Such breathtaking views! Loved every photo!

Lola said...

Hi again!

Many thanks for stopping by.

Such an interesting post – great pics!!

Have a lovely weekend!

Jim said...

Nice "C'S", Anita. We've never been to Chile. Those mountains are beautiful and your pictures are 'perfect.'
..

KDL said...

These photos are amazing! I've never seen such interesting mountains, and I grew up at the continental divide. Very cool.

Jenny said...

Oh beautiful...

...for spacious Chile...

...for Anita's glorious pics...

I wish that I could travel there...

Since I can't it makes me sick.

Oh.

Ummm...

Sorry.

Anyway...

(blush)

I'm loving these travel pictures!

Thanks for sharing them.

A+