Imagine the most remote place in the world, where civilization has barely taken root, and where the climatic conditions are extreme. The landscape is one of arid steppes, meadows, and deserts, as well as ice-bound fjords and temperate rainforests. That place is the province of Santa Cruz in southern Argentina, near the border with Chile. Here, you'll find Estancia Morro Chico, a ranch founded more than 130 years ago, which today works to preserve its ancestral natural, social, and economic heritage, adapting it not only to the present of Patagonia but also to its future.

The story began in 1888, when the Gallie family from Scotland crossed a vast stretch of Argentina on horseback, bringing the first 5,000 head of livestock to Santa Cruz. This was the first British migration, mainly composed of Scots, who arrived from the Falkland Islands and Punta Arenas, a city in Chilean Patagonia. They were drawn by the ease of acquiring land under government land grants and the growing international market for wool. These pioneering families brought prosperity to Argentina and Chile, introducing a new sheep breed, the Malvinera, to the region.

This Openhouse Magazine article is featured in Issue Nº14. Openhouse – a lifestyle and culture magazine – showcases creative people worldwide who open their homes and private spaces to the public, sharing cultural activities and experiences.

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MORRO CHICO from francisco uriburu on Vimeo.