Brief Description
Península Valdés in Patagonia is a site of global significance for the conservation of marine mammals. It is home to an important breeding population of the endangered southern right whale as well as important breeding populations of southern elephant seals and southern sea lions. The orcas in this area have developed a unique hunting strategy to adapt to local coastal conditions.
Península Valdés in Patagonia is a site of global significance for the conservation of marine mammals. It is home to an important breeding population of the endangered southern right whale as well as important breeding populations of southern elephant seals and southern sea lions. The orcas in this area have developed a unique hunting strategy to adapt to local coastal conditions.
Presqu'île de Valdés
Située en Patagonie, la presqu’île de Valdés est un site d’importance mondiale pour la préservation des mammifères marins. Elle héberge d’importantes populations reproductrices de baleines franches menacées, ainsi que d’éléphants et de lions de mer du Sud. Les orques de cette région ont développé une stratégie de chasse unique en son genre, afin de s’adapter aux conditions côtières locales.
شبه جزيرة فالديه
تقع شبه الجزيرة في الباتاغونيا وهي موقع مهم جداً على المستوى العالمي لجهة الحفاظ على الثدييات البحرية. تجمع عدداً كبيراً من المجموعات المهمة المتوالدة من الحيتان المهدّدة والفيلة وأسود البحر القادمة من الجنوب. وقد نجحت الأركة الموجودة في هذه المنطقة في تطوير استراتيجية صيد فريدة من نوعها من أجل التكيّف مع الشروط الساحلية المحليّة.
Source: UNESCO/BPI
瓦尔德斯半岛
瓦尔德斯半岛是全球海洋哺乳动物资源的重点保护区，也是濒危的南美露脊鲸以及南美海豹和南美海狮的重要繁衍生息地。这个地区的逆戟鲸还具有独特的捕猎技巧，可以适应当地的海洋条件。
Source: UNESCO/ERI
Полуостров Вальдес
Полуостров Вальдес в Патагонии – район, имеющий глобальное значение для сохранения морских млекопитающих. Это место размножения исчезающего южного кита, южных морских слонов и южных морских львов. Хищные касатки в этом районе выработали уникальную, адаптированную к местным условиям, методику охоты.
Source: UNESCO/ERI
Península Valdés
Situada en Patagonia, la Península Valdés es un lugar de preservación de mamíferos marinos de importancia mundial. El sitio alberga importantes poblaciones reproductoras de ballenas francas en peligro de extinción, así como de elefantes y leones marinos. Las orcas de la región practican una estrategia de caza única en su género, que es el resultado de su adaptación a las condiciones específicas del litoral.
Source: UNESCO/ERI
Península Valdés
© David
Statement of Significance
The World Heritage Committee inscribed Peninsula Valdés on the World Heritage List under criterion (x).
Peninsula Valdés contains very important and significant natural habitats for the in-situ conservation of several threatened species of outstanding universal value, and specifically its globally important concentration of breeding southern right whales, which is an endangered species. It is also important because of the breeding populations of southern elephant seals and southern sea lions. The area exhibits an exceptional example of adaptation of hunting techniques by the orca to the local coastal conditions.
Long Description
Península Valdés in the Argentinean province of Chubut is a 4,000 km2 promontory, protruding 100 km eastwards into the South Atlantic. The 400 km shoreline includes a series of gulfs, rocky cliffs, shallow bays and lagoons with extensive mudflats, sandy and pebble beaches, coastal sand dunes and small islands.
The shores and waters around the Peninsula is a special place for marine mammals. A population of southern right whales uses the protected waters of for mating and calving. The southern elephant seal has its most northern colony here. It reaches peak numbers of over 1,000 individuals and is the only colony in the world reported to be on the increase.
The southern sea lion also breeds here in large numbers.
The local population of orcas has used the beaches of Valdésto to develop a unique and spectacular approach to hunting. The orcas race into the shallow surf to snatch sea lions or young elephant seals, often throwing themselves onto the beach in the process.
The site has a high diversity of birds. The peninsula's intertidal mudflats and coastal lagoons are important staging sites for migratory shorebirds The Magellanic penguin is the most numerous with almost 40,000 active nests distributed among five different colonies.
Terrestrial mammals are also abundant. Large herds of guanaco can be seen throughout the peninsula and the mara, an Argentinean endemic, which is endangered in other parts of the country, is found here.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC
