THE PATAGONIA^ SEABOARD. 



391 



South of the regular semicircle formed by the spacious Gulf of St. George, 

 the Rio Deseado preseats a phenomenon analogous to that of the E,ios Colorado 

 and Negro. Instead of debouching in the vast gulf, which seems made to receive 

 its discharge, it reaches the coast after traversing a peninsular tract which, like 

 that of San José, encloses the gulf on the south side. 



Natural havens are rare on this Patagonian seaboard, Avhich is exposed to the 



Fig. 160. — View taken in the Acha Valley, Central Pampa. 



full fury of the fierce Polar winds. In the southern waters navigators show a 

 preference for Port San Julian and Port Santa Cruz, although both are closed at 

 ebb tide by bars with depths of not more than 8 or 10 feet. But the flow, which 

 on these coasts rises to a height of from 30 to 50 feet, gives access to the largest 

 vessels at all times. The approaches are much dreaded in the Gulf of San Matias, 

 especially in the vicinity of the Valdes Peninsula. Here the chopping seas and 

 conflicting currents cross and recross in all directions, developing exceedingly 



