The National Park of Pali Aike or Country of the Devil was called like that due the fear that the Tehuelches or aonikenk felt by its strange landscape, thinking that in the Prak the bad spirits had to dwell. These natives inherited the territory by thousands of years, finding in these places a territory of traditional hunting, for which they moved regularly between different places or whereabouts of temporary use, individualized in Aonikoaish language, like Aik or Aiken.

Nevertheless, the frequency of the Aonikenk crossed the zone, did not let feel a superstitious fear by its strange landscape, which they designated Pali Aike like “the Country of the Devil”.

Most of the surface of The National Park of Pali Aike is covered by extensive basaltic lava spills, which determines the existence of semi desert vegetation. The natural existence of numerous volcanic cones of low height, caves, abundant basaltic craters, walls and lava fields resemble to a lunar landscape. Created in 1970, The National Park of Pali Aike is unique in the country by its geologic characteristics; its exotic lunar landscapes and the singular mixture of greyish tones in the volcanic rest that make remember the lava rivers of the cordilleran zone of the XII Region.

The National Park of Pali Aike presents two terrestrial access roads, both through the international route 255 that unites to the city of Punta Arenas with Gallegos River in the Argentine Republic, which connects the region with the zone center - South of the country- via San Carlos de Bariloche.

This main way of The National Park of Pali Aike is constructed by a section of 124,27 mi with concrete folder, passable all the year. The first access to The National Park of Pali Aike, takes place from a bifurcation towards the Cooperative Legatee of the Bernardo O’Higgins Agrarian Reformation in km 168, to continue later by a pebble path of 16,16 mi that goes towards North Brazo.

The second access to The National Park of Pali Aike, is originated from the border complex Monte Aymond, in km 196, going into to about 9,32 mi towards the northwest by a earth track in regulating state, passable only by vehicles of double traction.

San Gregorio was the first Chilean Territory that sighted Hernando de Magallanes in 1520 and the archaeologists have found indications of the presence of the aonikenk or Tehuelche natives that denominated “Land of the Devil” by their strange configuration and changer geography.

Nevertheless, they were not the first in occupying those attractive places since in the caves Fell and Pali Aike were the first human vestiges of this part of the Continent, that date from about 11 thousand years.

It is possible to observe in The National Park of Pali Aike species of mammals quite scarce in other sectors of the region like armadillos, wild cats, Patagonian huroncitos, chingues, grey foxes or Chillas and Orejudo bat, Mouse of yellow Snout, Conero Mouse and introduced species as it is the Hare.

The greater populations are of Guanacos animal characteristic of the steppe; it is in a number near 400 units in the area and Ñandúes.

Between the birds of The National Park of Pali Aike is very frequent to see queltehues or tero, caiquenes, carranchos or taros, cernicalos and at some times flocks of flamenco.

The vegetation in The National Park of Pali Aike is located in territory of the cold Steppe or Patagonian, in its more barren section, due to the extensive spills of lava and to precipitations non superior to the 7, 8740 to 11, 8110 in annual.

Characteristic the vegetal species are Festuca gracillima, Festuca pallescens and Stipa humillis all associates forming coirón. Between the shrubs of The National Park of Pali Aike calafate, Black Bush can be found and sometimes murtilla. In The National Park of Pali Aike the most inhospitable places of the Patagonia are observed and the area and just as the ethnic aonikenk groups did before in the sector, being pushed by winds, has five footpaths, from where the craters of first volcanic activity 1.000.000 of years and the last one of 16,000 years approximately can be observed. Allowing appreciate the extension of the dump, populations of guanacos, flamenco and ñandúes in the lagoon.

The main activities that can be developed in The National Park of Pali Aike are: Recreational activities, oriented mainly to long walks with observation of fauna, flora and geologic resources of the area, Trekking, Photography and investigation.

The route borders the Strait of Magellan by sectors such as the ex-Ranch San Gregorio located to 77,05 mi of Punta Arenas, first cattle establishment of the Patagonia, and in which coasts the rest of the Amadeo steam rest, declared National Historical Monument, run aground in the coast of the Straits. At the present time The National Park of Pali Aike does not count on any type of administrative personal infrastructure.