scientific Research
Comau Fjord
The scientists and researchers from the Foundation’s Scientific Station will give classes and lectures to the children and youth from the Rural School of Huinay and the Hornopirén Municipal School about the work that will be done in this area. The Comau Fjord is part of a longitudinal structural fault that runs from north to south for 68 kilometers. The mountains surrounding the fjord reach an altitude of 2,000 meters, and the maximum depth of the water is 500 meters. The landscape features hillsides with steep slopes, both above and below sea level. The coast is very structured and almost all types of substrates are represented: muddy marshes, sandy beaches, gravel beaches, pebble beaches, and rocky coast with slopes.
Marine and Coastal Protected Area
In 2010, the State of Chile, at the request of the Huinay Foundation, declared a Multipurpose Marine and Coastal Protected Area consisting in 75-meter wide strip along the entire coast of Fundo Huinay. Since then, the Foundation has been advocating, together with the Municipality of Hualaihué, the extension of the Marine Protected Area to the entire Comau Fjord.
Scientific Diving
The heights of the tides (which reach a maximum of 7.5 meters) result in a tremendous diversity in the benthic community all along this very structured coastline. This creates a strong need for scientific work in this region, even in the intertidal area. The strong currents, waves, low visibility, steep slopes, and water temperatures (below 10° C) all make diving in the fjord a challenging activity. Dry suits and well-kept equipment are not only necessary; they are absolutely essential. Each diver must take at least one test dive in the dock at the Scientific Station before diving at more difficult sites.
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