List of national parks of Argentina Facts for Kids

The National Parks of Argentina are a group of 35 special protected areas across Argentina. These parks protect many different types of land and natural environments, from the northern border with Bolivia at Baritú National Park all the way to Tierra del Fuego National Park in the far south. The Administración de Parques Nacionales (National Parks Administration) is the group in charge of looking after these national parks, as well as other important natural places and reserves in Argentina.

The main office for the National Parks Administration is in downtown Buenos Aires. They have a library and information center that anyone can visit. This administration also takes care of national monuments, like the Jaramillo Petrified Forest, and other natural and educational reserves.

History of Argentina's National Parks
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List of National Parks
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History of Argentina's National Parks

How the Parks Began

The idea for national parks in Argentina started in 1903. A famous explorer and scientist named Francisco Moreno gave 75 square kilometers (about 29 square miles) of land in the Lake District to the country. This area, located in the Andes mountains, became the first part of a larger protected region in Patagonia, near San Carlos de Bariloche.

In the early 1920s, people became very interested in national parks again, especially around Lake Nahuel Huapí. This led to the official creation of the Parque Nacional del Sud on April 8, 1922, by President Yrigoyen.

Growing the Park System

In 1934, a law was passed that created the official National Parks system. This law made the protected area around Lake Nahuel Huapí into the Nahuel Huapi National Park. It also created the famous Iguazú National Park. Because of this, Argentina became the third country in the Americas to have a national park system, after the United States and Canada.

A special police force was created for the National Parks. Their job was to make sure people followed the new rules, like not cutting down trees or hunting animals. The first director of the National Parks, Exequiel Bustillo, believed the parks should help the region grow and develop. Besides tourism, the parks also helped Argentina show its control over distant areas and protect its borders.

By 1937, five more national parks were created in Patagonia. The park service even planned new towns and facilities to encourage tourism and education. By 1970, six more parks had been added.

Modern National Park Laws

In 1970, a new law introduced different ways to protect land. These included National Parks, National Monuments, Educational Reserves, and Natural Reserves. Three new national parks were named in the 1970s.

Another important law in 1980 confirmed the special status of national parks. This law is still used today! In the 1980s, the park service started working closely with local communities and governments. This teamwork helped create and manage the parks. Ten more national parks were created with local help, sometimes even suggested by the local people.

In the year 2000, Mburucuyá and Copo National Parks were officially declared. Also, the El Leoncito natural reserve was upgraded to a national park. Today, Argentina has 41 protected areas. These areas cover about 37,000 square kilometers (about 14,286 square miles), which is about 1.5% of Argentina's total land.

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