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| Aug 22--Day 3: Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine -- Puerto Natales (B, L)An early start after breakfast takes you on a full-day excursion to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage biosphere. Traveling through Patagonia’s rugged steppe country, an important habitat for many endangered species. See herds of sheep and native guanacos (animals that look like a cross between a llama and a camel) and notice the rugged snow-capped Torres del Paine mountains towering in the background. Visit Salto Grande waterfall on the Pehoe River and Patagonia’s lovely lakes Pehoe and Grey, overlooked by the snowy white peaks of Grey Glacier. The excursion returns to Puerto Natales in the evening. https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g297401-d11449023-Chilean_Pa... We'll be visiting the national park too. Our hotel for the night is https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297400-d11911786-Reviews-Simple_Patago...  Book: The natural Heritage of the World Published January 15.2016 by Monaco Books (available from Google Books) Quote: "Each reserve promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use." See the Link for more information from UNESCO about Biodiversity within reserves. http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/bi... The way I understand this: Biosphere Reserves have a part of the reserve where human contact interacts with the ecosystem in a cultural and sustainable manner. Google separated UNESCO World Heritage organizations from Biosphere Reserves. UNESCO World Heritage is an organization that recognizes Biosphere Reserves as they meet certain World Heritage standards. We were bundled up in the Torres del Paine National Park today because the temperatures were in the 20's with rain scheduled for the day. It didn't matter we hiked anyway. There are breathtaking views here. There are amazing trails through the forest and places to view Grey Glacier. I wasn't real sure about that rugged bridge. I figured if Blue Moon was walking across I would get to the other side as well.  The waterfall is in very rugged terrain.  I was especially happy to get pictures. Sandra Lyn and I decided they would not be putting people over the falls in any barrels like sometimes happens in Buffalo, NY.In the evening we viewed the stars through huge telescopes. This is the first time for me to look at Saturn in this manner. When I hear news reports about possible Blue Planets that have alien life I really think this earth is the only inhabited planet. But, when I see so many stars in the sky I think well of course, there must be other planets with people. It is only a question of time before we connect with them. Was that a shooting star or an alien space craft? Did I see the satellite that is bringing me my WiFi today? Back at the Simple Patagonia Hotel we rested in the lounge looking out through the darkness toward the mountains. What a great hotel to return to after the invigorating day of hiking and sight seeing. Everywhere in the hotel are views of the mountains and you can see the stars from the window walls. Sandra Lyn, Blue Moon and I sat with our feet up drinking hot tea and watching the nighttime views of mountains and stars. ![Merit Badge in Blog Camping
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Thank you for your participation in the [Link To Item #30dbc] 's December 2016 Australian Tour! We hope you had a great time! *^*Bigsmile*^*
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