Cueva del Milodon
Cueva del Milodon (Milodon Cave) is a natural attraction in Chilean Patagonia, several caves in Cerro Benitez mountain near the town of Puerto Natales. The main cavity stretches hundreds of meters deep into the mountain.
The place owes its name to the mylodon - a giant ground sloth, a piece of whose skin was found here at the end of the 19th century. The animal itself died out many thousands of years ago, so at the entrance you were left with a life-size statue of it so that your imagination does not skid.
The remains of an ancient horse, a saber-toothed smilodon and a strange macrouchenia were also found there, as well as traces of the first people. The place has the status of a natural monument and is included in the tourist route End of the World, so it is difficult to miss it.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What kind of cave is this and why is the sloth here?
This is a natural attraction in Chilean Patagonia - several caves in the Cerro Benitez mountain. The main cave stretches about 200 meters deep. The name was given by mylodon - a giant ground sloth, a piece of skin of which was found here as early as 1895; the animal itself died out more than 10 thousand years ago.
How to get there?
The cave is located 24 km northwest of the town of Puerto Natales and approximately 270 km north of Punta Arenas. It is more convenient to start from Puerto Natales - it is the closest from there.
What can be seen there?
There is a life-size mylodon near the entrance - so you know exactly who you are dealing with. There is also a rock formation with the proverbial name Devil's Chair, and in the caves themselves there are traces of ancient people and paleontological findings.
Who else lived here but a sloth?
The list of neighbors is solid: the remains of a hippidion (an ancient horse), a saber-toothed smilodon and a macrouchenia - a strange animal similar to a camel - were found here. People settled here around 6000 BC.
Is this even an official monument?
Yes, the place has the status of a natural monument (category III according to the IUCN classification) and is included in the scenic tourist route of the Edge of the World. That is, it is difficult to get lost past it.