Where rivers roar with glacial waters: Where 3,000-year-old Alerce trees strain for the sky: Where sea lions rule from their perch on the rocky coast. Here you see a very large tract of virgin land containing incredible nature geography of lakes, rivers, hot springs, mountains, volcanoes and coastal fjords.
You could only imagine this is purely, a script from Gulliver’s Travels.A fantasy island and you like Alice in the 'Wonderland'.You can harldy believe that this is the mother earth known by you and known to you.Here ,man is at peace with his world.
The story begins ,when in the late 1990s, American millionaire Douglas Tompkins, a worldwide American astute businessman-turned-environmentalist , the founder of The North Face and co-founder of Espirit de Corp clothing, decided to donate $14 million to help preserve a wilderness area in Chile, he found it harder than he could ever expected.
The self-described ecology zealot, who now lives on a remote, solar-powered organic farm in southern Chile, finally succeeded in donating the pristine land after years of negotiations with the Chilean government. It was said that the land in question, Parque Pumalin covers an expansive landmass that made so many Chileans to suspect Tompkins’ intention.
Tompkins was said to have visited Chile in the 1960s, for the very first time but was enchanted by its wealth of natural beauty and outstanding conviviality, natural geography of lakes, rivers, hot springs, mountains, volcanoes and coastal fjords.
After his visit, he went on to co-found the Esprit de Corp. clothing company, a business that made him a millionaire.
In 1990 he sold his share of the business for an estimated $125 million and in 1991 began buying land in southern Chile, Most of which around a 400,000-acre parcel, was purchased from 150 heirs of a Spanish conquistador who was deeded the land almost 500 years ago.
Tompkins estimated that he spent more than $15 million to acquire the property in southern Chile, which is approximately the size of Yosemite National Park in the United States,and its southern hemisphere version.
Although Tompkins insisted he intended to return the land to Chile in the form of a national park, his purchases worried Chile's business and military leaders, and these set of folks worked covertly and overtly to sabotage Tompkins’ intention.
Mining, logging, and fishing companies as well, believed erroneously, so to say that Tompkins was trying to halt development of Chile's more remote regions: And thus, cutting the country off from a potential source of revenue.
His plan was to protect the 16,996.6 ha (42,000 acres) tract, most of which was primeval Valdivian temperate rainforest, from future exploitation. After moving to Reñihué to live full-time, Tompkins began developing plans for a larger park, gradually acquiring additional adjacent properties from willing sellers.
Ultimately, roughly 98 percent of the park acreage was bought from absentee landowners. Most of whom had inherited such in the first place and seemed to be less concerned in developing it.
Since, it was an era of military dictatorship in Chile, hence, military leaders, noting that Tompkins's territory stretched from the Pacific Ocean all the way to the border with Argentina, accused him of endangering national security.
hotpsrings like this ,you soon forget so soon that there is time and itis 24hours when it spins
For years these suspicions stood in the way of the plan to create a park, but Tompkins eventually convinced the government of his sincerity.
This was achieved when Douglas Tompkins was able to reach an agreement with the Chilean government on July 7, 1997, to create a national park out of his private land holdings in Chile, which totaled approximately 3000 sq km (about 1000 sq mi). Intended to preserve a huge swath of Chilean wilderness, bringing to an end years of endured oppositions.
Under the July 7 plan, Tompkins will turn over control of his land to a foundation, and the park will be designated a nature sanctuary. The foundation will be governed by a board, four of whose members will be named by Tompkins.
Chilean academic and religious institutions will name the remaining three members. A key element of the deal, an outrageous aberration on its own, was Tompkins's promise to abstain from additional purchases for one year while the government draws up laws to govern land purchases in strategic areas.
The preserve will be known as Pumalin Park and will be open to the general public. Situated in south central Chile, near the city of Puerto Montt, the park encompasses a variety of wilderness areas, including rugged coastlines, virgin forests, and snow-capped mountains.
Pumalin Park is an unrivaled way to experience the best this natural wonderland has to offer, balancing off–the–beaten path adventure with upscale comfort. It is the biggest ecotourist attractions of south Chile, accessible by car or boat.
Caleta Gonzalo, at the center of the Park, in the Reñihue Fjord, houses the park's main tourist infrastructure, including a restaurant, visitor center, cabañas, and a campground. Ferries run from the village of Hornopiren to Caleta Gonzalo during the summer months.
Today, Pumalin is considered to be the largest privately owned nature preserve in the world. If you are down to earth and you are inspired and thrilled by nature at is most pure, most awesome rawness, this is one of those special places in the world that is worth a pilgrimage.
While at Caleta Gonzalo, there is a hike to a secluded waterfall on a huge rock face called "Cascada Escondida;" a horseback ride to a glacier on Michimauda Volcano and a trek through lush temperate rainforests. Along with the natural beauty that is synonymous with the park.
It is not for mere fun that the park was designated a Nature Sanctuary in 2005, remaining unchallenged as Chile's largest private nature reserve ,one of the best of such in the world .Though,operated as a public-access park,NO FEE IS CHARGED, with an extensive infrastructure of trails, campgrounds, and visitor centers.
This is PARADISE DISCOVERED !
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