What is Punta Tombo?
Punta Tombo is a peninsula into the Atlantic Ocean 110 kilometres south of Trelew in the Chubut Province of Argentina, where there is an important colony of Magellanic Penguins. It is found a short distance north of Camarones. The 3 kilometre long, 600 metre wide peninsula is covered with sand, clay and gravel. Between September and April, up to one million penguins come to this site to incubate their eggs, and prepare their offspring for migration – the largest such colony in South America. Couples stand in front of their nests, protecting the eggs from birds and other predators, and occasionally one adult goes to the sea for food. Other wildlife encountered in the area including sea birds (mainly seagulls, chimangos and cormorants), rheas and guanacos. The 2.1 km Punta Tombo Provincial Reserve has been protected since 1979, according to provincial decree, and it is one of the main tourist attractions in Chubut. Other important nearby colonies are Baha Camarones and Cabo Dos Bahas.
