Interpretation Center and Planetarium of Patagonia Park Argentina

Elsa Rosenvasser Feher

The Interpretation Center and Planetarium of Patagonia Park Argentina is an architectural gem that peeks out from a moraine in the Cañadon Pinturas Gateway, one of the access points to the park along National Route 40.

Through its interpretive exhibits, the center narrates the history of continental formation, human evolution, the species extinction crisis, and the restoration movement that has emerged to reverse it. In the planetarium, located at the heart of the building, visitors can enjoy interpretive projections of the Patagonian sky.

The center bears the name of Elsa Rosenvasser Feher, an Argentine physicist who pioneered the development of interactive museums around the world. Motivated by a desire to contribute to the understanding of nature for future generations, Elsa devised the idea of this center, contributed to the development of its contents, and donated the funds for its construction in Patagonia, a region she loved.

Explore The Exhibits

Campaña Tierra de Cañadones – Planetario – Noviembre 2024 – @Hori_barbieri – Horacio Barbieri_-41

The Interpretation Center receives visitors in an impressive foyer, dominated by the presence of a great red metal sphere that represents the sun and houses the planetarium.

The organic forms that make up the different spaces evoke a natural cave, whose walls are constructed from wooden rods that were part of the fences of the old ranch, before they were removed by our team to allow wildlife to circulate freely.

When you enter the foyer, the park hosts will welcome you with a brief introductory talk that marks the beginning of this tour.

The Foyer

Campaña Tierra de Cañadones – Planetario – Noviembre 2024 – @Hori_barbieri – Horacio Barbieri_-46

Where do we come from? What is the origin of our species? What do we have in common with all life on our planet? The first stop on the tour engages with these questions.

Though humans appeared very recently in the history of Earth, everything we are is the result of hundreds of millions of years of evolution. From the smallest beings to megafauna, we share traits with almost all other life forms, and to exist we need, essentially, the same elements: water, oxygen, energy.

This exhibit illuminates our inescapable dependence on nature, just like that of every other species with which we share the planet.

Evolution Lives in You

Octubre 2024 – Centro de interpretación y planetario – Horacio Barbieri_-20 copy

There is a strong correspondence between our arrival on continents and islands and megafauna extinction events. These waves of colonization and extinction began around 50 thousand years ago, when Homo sapiens arrived in Australia, and continued until only about 600 years ago, when we arrived in New Zealand.

During this period, two thirds of the megafauna species that inhabited the planet became extinct. In South America, extinction was even more pronounced, with the disappearance of 82% of large animal species.

The Extinction of Megafauna

Octubre 2024 – Centro de interpretación y planetario – Horacio Barbieri_-22 copy

Between 9500 and 2500 years ago, hunter-gatherer societies inhabited the Pinturas Canyon in a close coexistence with native fauna that was portrayed in the cave art of Cueva de las Manos, Alero Charcamata and other archaeological sites in the area.

At the same time, since the Agrarian Revolution some 12,000 years ago, through the colonization of the Americas and the Industrial Revolution, we humans have been deepening the extinction crisis in every corner of the planet. As a result, more than a million species are currently at risk of disappearing forever.

In recent history, Patagonia was not immune to this process: since European colonization around 200 years ago, the canyon and steppe have suffered grave impacts caused by overgrazing by domestic livestock and mining extraction, two activities that continue developing near the park.

Pinturas Canyon: Parallel Histories

Campaña Tierra de Cañadones – Planetario – Noviembre 2024 – @Hori_barbieri – Horacio Barbieri_-14 copy

The model of infinite growth on a finite planet produced grave environmental crises that affect us all today. The mother of all these is the sixth crisis of species extinction, this time caused by our actions.

We humans have been aggressive, territorial, and competitive towards all other species and towards the earth. We have modified and degraded the majority of its surface, and in Latin America, in just 50 years, we have reduced biodiversity by more than 70%.

Our demand for energy, food, and transportation continues increasing carbon dioxide emissions and the global temperature to intolerable levels for the development of life. Our waste forms immense islands of garbage in the oceans, while we raze underwater ecosystems through the destructive practice of bottom trawling.

But just as humans have been part of the problem, we can be part of the solution and join the global movement for the restoration of ecosystems.

The Present: Anthropocine

Sala Rewilding – Centro de Intrepretación y Planetario – Diciembre 2024 – Horacio Barbieri-43 copy

Learn more about rewilding and the economy of nature.

Today, we know it is possible to restore ecosystems and develop economies that benefit all species: Patagonia Park is a testament to this.

Through the protection of rivers, basins, and ecosystems, the reintroduction of extinct species, and the recovery of threatened species, nature is reclaiming its capacity to sustain life in this corner of our Patagonia.

But even further, when ecosystems are protected by solid laws and open for people to visit and enjoy, they are capable of promoting local development through services with added value, such as nature tourism, and regenerative products, such as carob flour and yerba mate from the low shrubland.

The Global Restoration Movement

Cafe and Shop

The planetarium’s cafe offers sweet and savory samplings, coffee, and other infusions and beverages.

In the shop, you will find crafts made by the Entrepreneurs by Nature, books, apparel, and other hiking supplies.

Check the schedules at the Information Center or in the Tourism Guide

Credits

General Mentoring
Elsa Rosenvasser Feher

Content Director
(except for the “Restoration Movement” exhibit)
Leandro Panetta

Architecture Director
Oscar Romero

Implementation
(except for the “Restoration Movement” exhibit)
Spirit Agencia Creativa

“Restoration Movement” Exhibit
Art and painting: Magdalena Trucco, Francisca Amigo, Guido Contrafatti
Implementation: Martina Urtubey / MU Realiza
Lighting: Máquina Robot
Sound: Aldana Olivello
Video: Andrea Villarreal
Project Coordinator: Nicolás Guastavino

Patagonia Argentina Park

National Route 40, 54 km south of Perito Moreno, Santa Cruz, Argentina
Whatsapp: +54 9 2966 228408
parquepatagonia.arg@gmail.com

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Press inquiries

Tel/Whatsapp: +54 9 11 3038 2684
prensa@rewildingargentina.org