Aysen

"Aisen is the name of the Chilean region of northern Patagonia. This is one of the most pristine and undisturbed areas in the world and it encompasses a fascinating diversity of eco-regions. From the barren windswept Patagonian steppes to the exuberant Valdivian temperate rain forests and Chilean fjords, these areas are considered to be critically endangered. The Patagonian steppes extend along the eastern face and the foothills of the southern Andes all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Dense patches of low shrubs and scattered grasses dot the characteristic bare soil, sand, and rock. To the west are to be found the Valdivian temperate forests. There are just five temperate rain forest ecosystems in the world, the Valdivian being the second largest. Currents of Pacific air rise from the Andean foothills, creating the plentiful rainfall that sustains the emerald green of these forests.