Patagonian International Marathon

The Patagonian International Marathon logo.

The Patagonian International Marathon is the latest event of Nómadas International Group (NIGSA), which is also the driving force behind the annual Patagonian Expedition Race. The first edition will take place around Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1978,[1] on September 23, 2012, and will welcome runners from all over the world.

The race

The race is a standard marathon of 42.195 kilometres (26.219 mi) on unpaved roads in the shadows of Torres del Paine National Park. The motto reads "Running in and for Patagonia", referring respectively to the location and the company's efforts to raise awareness for the fragile Patagonian ecosystem. Alongside the marathon there will simultaneously be a half marathon, of 21.0975 kilometres (13.1094 mi), and a 10K race using parts of the same course.

The organization

The marathon is organized by NIGSA (Nómadas International Group), an organization based in Punta Arenas, committed to environmental protection and the promotion of eco-tourism in Chilean Patagonia. They also host the annual Patagonian Expedition Race, where up to 20 international co-ed teams of 4 athletes compete on a journey through remote parts of Chilean Patagonia by trekking, sea kayaking, orienteering, and mountain biking. In both the Patagonian Expedition Race and The Patagonian International Marathon NIGSA’s environmental values play a central role.

Location

Torres del Paine is Chile’s most visited National Parks. It houses a great variety of wildlife in a wide range of ecosystems. Located in the center are the famous “Torres”, surrounded by 4 greatly diverse landscapes; Patagonian steppe, Magellanic subpolar forest, Andean desert and Pre-Andean shrubbery.

Environmental

The race draws particular attention to the Huemul Preservation Project. The Huemul, also known as the South Andean deer, is, among other areas, found in Chilean Patagonia, where NIGSA is based. The project was founded in order to raise awareness about its state of endangerment and to help raise money for thorough scientific research.

References

  1. ↑ UNESCO. BIOSPHERE RESERVE INFORMATION; CHILE; TORRES DEL PAINE, Paris (Last updated on 8 March 2011 when retrieved on 14 March 2012). (LINK)

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, March 17, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.