Ecological diversity on global and miniature scales
The islands which make up the territory of Cape Horn are one of the few regions in the world where temperate forests remain in an almost pristine condition. The rainy sub-Antarctic forests are moreover the planet's southern-most forest ecosystem.
The Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve encompasses a great range of different habitats: evergreen and deciduous Nothofagus forests, wetlands and peat bogs, glaciers, mountainous regions, bare rock, lakes and lagoons, channels and fjords. It is one of the 37 most pristine areas of wilderness in the world (Wilderness Area Concept, Conservation International 2002)
In the area of the reserve live endangered species, like the Magellanic Woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus), which is the largest woodpecker in Latin America.
Recent studies have shown that the largest diversity of species of mosses, liverworts and lichen in Chile is found in the Magellanic region: Our southern region has around 1000 species of bryophytes and lichens, representing more than 5% of the world's bryophytes.
