El Calafate

El Calafate is a city located in southern Argentina, in the Patagonia region, on the southern shore of Lake Argentino. The town is named after a shrub typical of the Calafate area, whose blue fruits are considered to bring good luck to those who taste them, according to a local legend.
Geographically, El Calafate is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, famous especially for the impressive Perito Moreno glacier, one of the few glaciers in the world that continues to advance. The area has a cold and dry climate, with short summers and long winters, being surrounded by spectacular landscapes with mountains, glacial lakes and Patagonian steppes.
Historically, the town began to develop in the first half of the 20th century, initially as a small village of sheep farmers and a supply point for the surrounding farms. It was only after the declaration of Los Glaciares National Park in 1937 and the improvement of the road infrastructure that El Calafate experienced a significant increase in tourism.