Eco-center Puerto Madryn

Lying on a perfect cliff, the eco-center boasts its Welsh architectural style and provides an excellent vantage point to enjoy the view. Each of its grand windows invites visitors to behold the endless sea and to appreciate the wonderful world of sea dwellers. María Elena Lizurume is in charge of the eco-center cultural programs. She was also our guide. At first, she told us that the building was inaugurated in 2000 as a result of the work done by a group of scientists and naturalists closely related to the Valdés Peninsula area. The main fosterers were Messrs. Alfredo Lichter and Claudio Campagna. Both of them designed an essentially scientific and cultural project devoted to the observation and interpretation of sea ecosystems.

María Elena led us through the various spaces of the venue. The tour included sound shows, posters, photographs and reproductions of the local fauna. The most fascinating hall displays the different varieties of algae and lets visitors identify the behavior of whales, establish the main differences found among seals, sea lions and elephant seals, and determine the features of the ocean currents. On the other hand, at one end of the same hall, next to the window, a large pool shelters small invertebrates. Last but not least, it is important to mention that the eco-center is a cultural space displaying temporary shows presented by the Fine Arts Museum. It also organizes educational and cultural events open to the community. Some of them include the free educational program for schools in the Province of Chubut and the program sponsored by the only aluminum smelter in the country, the company named Aluar.