Pink hills
Amid the plains.
Horacio_Fernandez — CC BY 3.0 · Horacio_Fernandez — CC BY 3.0 · Diegoarielvega — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Manu Fsa — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Horacio_Fernandez — CC BY 3.0
Lihué Calel National Park, whose Mapuche name means «hills of life», protects a range of pink rocky hills rising suddenly from La Pampa's semi-arid plains, over 32,514 hectares. The hills formed some 240 million years ago from volcanic lava, their highest summit reaching 589 metres, and became a national park in 1977. Because the rock holds water, its valleys are moister than the surrounding plains, with caldén groves and plenty of wildlife: guanacos, maras, the «Patagonian hare», vizcachas, foxes and pumas. One of the finest walks is the Valle de las Pinturas trail, about 600 metres to a rock shelter with old red and black geometric paintings left by the native people. The park has a campground and short trails to summits and viewpoints. It is remote and isolated, so bring water and fuel; summers are hot.
Amid the plains.
A rock shelter.
Wildlife.
South-central La Pampa province
«Hills of life» in Mapuche, as its rock holds water and life thrives amid dry plains.