Patagonia - El Calafate, Provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina

El Calafate, Province of Santa Cruz, Argentine Patagonia.
LOCATION	El Calafate, Province of Santa Cruz, Argentine Patagonia. The field is located at the foot of the Andes range, on the East Bank of the La Leona River, between lakes Argentino and Viedma. It is at 80 km apart from the city of El Calafate and 125 km from f El Chaltén, two of the main touristic districts of Patagonia
SIZE	30000 hectares (74132 acres)
DESCRIPTION	GEOGRAPHY: The ranch extends between 200 and 1200 m above sea level. (650 and 3900 ft) It is comprised of two units, of 20000 hectares (49421 acres) and 10000 hectares (24711 acres), respectively. In its extension can be seen multiple landscapes and types of terrains, highlighting the 10 km of coastline of the La Leona River (6.2 miles). This watercourse has more than 200 m wide (656 ft), a slope of 1 m/km (5.1 ft/mile) and an average annual flow of 300 m3/s It is navigable and - being the only drainage of the Viedma Lake - pours its waters into the Lago Argentino Among the hills found in the property, stand out for its beauty the Colorado, the Cuadrado and the Fortaleza; as well as a plateau at which are foot are the farmhouse (main house) and other facilities of the ranch. Walking through the various fields can be seen great plains, valleys with natural springs, ridges, hills and small swampy areas (so-called vegas), with a great variety of the most typical landscapes of the Patagonian Andean foothills. WILDLIFE: Although the Patagonian fauna is very rich, we are going to indicate here only those who have been observed in the past three years within the estancia. Among the mammals we can include guanacos (Lama guanicoe), which are found forming multiple family groups of up to 20 members or large herds of more than 100, according to the time of the year; pumas, gray foxes, red foxes, european hares, armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), Patagonian skunks, wildcats, rodents and miscellaneous marsupials, etc. Birds include condors, Moorish Eagles, blue falcons, rheas (also called Nandu or American ostrich), Ashy-headed goose, Flightless Steamer Duck, Patagonian swallow, southern lapwing, white heron, southern screamer, araucarian dove, ringdove, belfry owl, patagonian partridge, austral thrush, sparrows, etc. The family of reptiles is represented only by small frogs and lizards, because snakes do not live in Southern Patagonia As for fish we can find native species (bass, puyen chico (Galaxias maculatus) puyen grande (G. platei), and patagonian silverside) and exotic species (rainbow, lake and brown trout). PLANT LIFE: You can find the type of vegetation that grows in areas of the Patagonian plateau and foothills, highlighting the white and poa thatches, brome grass, Chamomile, black shrub, calafate (berberis spp.), etc. In the coastal area of the La Leona River, on the property, there are Apple, pear, Plum, black cherry, poplars and willows, all of them are old. In the farmhouse area, there are curtains of old and new poplars, three types of willows and ponderosa pines. Also there are plants of fine fruit as elder, rhubarb, currants and fruit trees recently implanted CLIMATE: The climate is temperate to cold. The summers are mild with an average temperature between 10 to 20 ° C (50 to 68o Fahrenheit) and very long days (17 hours of light per day). The winters are cold and rigorous, with a range of temperatures ranging from - 20 to 12 ° C, short days (8 hours of light per day) and abundant snowfall. Rainfall is 300 mm per year (11,8 inches) and the prevailing winds are from SW and NW with seasonally variable intensity. INSTALLATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS: The farmstead of the estancia is located in a valley surrounded by peaks that protect it from the winds. It has the following facilities: -1 fully equipped and operational shearing shed for sheep exploitation, with room for machines, aparting pens, (8) mechanical shears and press; corrals and bath for sheep. -Storage facilities. -Carpentry. -Bedroom for workers. -Greenhouse, with orchard, a small 4.5 hectares farm (11.2 acres) and 27.000 liter water tank for irrigation (7,100 gallons). -Chute, headgate, loader and pens for cattle. - Large parabolic shed for mechanical shop with pit to repair vehicles and storage for tools and fuel. - Room for generators and battery bank - Charcoal bunker - Henhouse - Windmill and tank for consumption water 10,000-liter (2,641 gallons).capacity and 600 liter reserve tank (158 gallons). - House for person in charge with two bedrooms, kitchen-dining room, bathroom with hot water, double electric system (220V and 12V), wind electric generator and running water. - Main house with covered garden, laundry, butchery, basement warehouse, kitchen dining room with gas and firewood range, main dining room, 5 bedrooms with gas heating, bathroom with hot water, large glazed living room with fireplace and view to the mountains, complete gas water and electricity installation (220V y 36 V) - It also has radiotelephone, UHF and VHF antenna. - Near the riverbed are two other sheds out of use. - The property has wire fences of 6 and 7 threads in various states of preservation, which limit 7 paddocks and 6 fields MACHINERY AND TOOLS: The field is equipped with the following: - Japanese tractor Yanmar F-42 EX brand, nearly new, with front shovel, bulldozer blade, backhoe, plow with 16 eccentric discs with fine and medium seeding box, 8 disc plow. - Trailer for 3.500 kg. (7700 lb) with two shafts, to transport loads. - Chain saw - Motor mower - Lister brand generator of 220V-36V - Eolic generator, Fiasa Brand, Bragado 1 model. - Radiotelephone - Lister band motor for shearing. - Miscellaneous tools - Antennas and installation for VHF and UHF
APTITUDE	Exploitation, tourism, forestry and livestock (sheep and bovine). Has two winter rearing fields Cattle raising: This Farmstead was, since its founding in the early 20th century, a livestock facility dedicated to sheep exploitation, whether of wool or meat. Nowadays it has capacity for 17.000 sheep or 1000 cows. Anyhow, in the last 20 years it has not been intensively exploited, which allowed that its natural pastures to be in excellent condition. Nowadays it keeps a small flock of 250 Corriedale sheep for internal consumption. On year 2004 began a pilot experience raising Hereford cattle. The results were really excellent, surpassing expectations. The cattle, fed with natural pastures at open field increased from 25 cows with calf at foot and 2 bulls, to 38 cows with calves, 14 one year heifers and 25 steers of 2 and 3 years. These steers were sold at the beginning of 2006 with weights over 500 Kg (1100 lb) The 100% fertility of the mothers, the 100% survival rate of the calves (including winter calving) and the adequate finishing and body structure of the heifers, would justify a future mixed cattle project (sheep – cows) or even a pure cattle one With respect to the equine cattle the establishment maintains a herd of 10 to 20 wild horses to have animals for working. The raising of them is also possible as an economic activity, since it is now performed in one of the adjoining fields. The exploitation of goats or guanacos (Lama guanicoe) is being studied and not discarded yet. Forestation During years 2001-2002 soil and climatic studies were performed, whether satellite or on the field, with the intervention of Agricultural and Forestal Engineers from Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) and CIEFAP. The conclusion was that it is perfectly feasible an afforested project and were delimited zones of plantation for a total of 5000 ha (12.355 acres) with a mixed tree-pasture system being recommended. On years 2003 to 2005 tests were performed with small plantations of Douglas coming from an afforestation nursery in Esquel, with results very much lower than expected. The conclusion of the experts was that the failure was caused by lack of adjusting to a new environment of the small plants, brought from 1500 km to the north, in a different climate and the odd combination of especially adverse climatic factors at the moment of the plantation. Because of that, the project was rethought, building a hothouse, a water reservoir with capacity of 27.000 liters (7.132 gallons) to produce nursery plants in an own nursery, and other facilities to produce nursery plants not needing acclimation. The project is already working. Agriculture: Agriculture is not the traditional activity of the zone, but the new technologies of irrigation and the development of new seeds with shorter cycles, allow new possibilities, unthinkable 20 years ago at such latitude. Very satisfactory experiments were carried on, with forage species like wheat, triticale and oats that show their viability in the place. Thanks to the new technologies, it is under consideration the possibility to seed pastures with artificial irrigation in 450 hectares (1.112 acres) adjoining to la Leona river. Likewise, they are evaluating to form farms to produce forages, vegetables or fruit, which are highly valuated in the local market, owing to the distance and high transportation costs from the original places. Tourism: The estancia is at 150 km (93 miles) from the world famous Perito Moreno Glacier, at 80 km (50 miles) from the city of El Calafate and at 73 km of its airport (45 miles) (with up to 7 daily frequencies from Buenos Aires in the high season). It is also important to emphasize the nearness to El Chalten, (known as the national trekking capital city) at 125 km (78 miles) and the famous mountains Fitz Roy and Torre, visited by climbers from the entire world. This privileged situation makes it an ideal place for touristic undertakings, especially for rural tourism, with great development in the area and high results. Also, its 10 km (6 miles) coast on la Leona River (navigable) make possible the installation of a fishing Lodge or a jetty to perform fluvial excursions to lakes Argentino and Viedma. Other touristic attractions are the ruins and rests of the Tehuelche aboriginal culture (recently studied by the Anthropology Department of the La Plata University) and the fossil rests that can be observed along the field. There are also large deposits of marine fossils, recently were discovered fossils of dinosaurs, among which outstands one femur of more than 2,5 m (8.2 ft). It was extracted on year 2005, to be studied by Dr. Kenneth Lacovara from Drexler University, in Philadelphia (USA), together with people from the San Juan Bosco University, in Comodoro Rivadavia. The diversity of its terrains and landscapes favor the rides on 4x4 and horse ridings, with imposing views to Argentino and Viedma lakes and the valley of the Santa Cruz river. OPTION: Transference of the capital stock, without movements.