The topography of the Patagonia mountains is rather extreme, marked by staggeringly vertical cliffs and peaks that jut straight into the sky. These formations are the result of rather extreme "uplift formations" caused by the continent being folded and compressed time and again. The mountains bear both steep canyons and terraced valleys, features that contribute to its unusual topography and appearance. Around the edges of the mountains are glaciers and active volcanoes, which give the area its reputation for being a land of "fire and ice."
The mountain range was formed millions of years ago when tectonic plates in the ocean collided with the continental shelf, forcing the mountains skyward. Patterns of water erosion helped carve out canyons and valleys and give shape to the mountains. Moreover, multiple earthquakes and other seismic activity allowed ocean water to penetrate the interior of the mountain ranges, forming lakes and other bodies of water, some of which remain today.
Fitting for its unique geology, the Patagonia mountains are also home to some unusual wildlife. It contains two species of deer native to Argentina, including the pudú, which is classified as the world's smallest deer. The huemul is the other kind of dear, which resides high up in the mountains, past the treeline. Many birds populate the mountain range as well, including the Andean condor and small species such as hummingbirds.
One unique feature of the Patagonia mountains is that they continue to grow. As the glaciers in the lower elevations melt, the mountains themselves "spring up" and reach higher toward the sky. The technical term for this mechanism is "isostatic rebound." The mountains' annual growth rate is 1.5 inches.
