"The Voice of the Maple" trail (Botanical Garden of Lago Puelo)

The first trail that we reached walking in the Botanical Garden is the one called "THE VOICE OF THE MAPLE"...


The maple tree is not a native specie of this region. The first maples were brought and planted by the Rietman Family, early inhabitants 80 years ago...

This family brought them from Europe and planted them against the wind. But it is an invasive specie and they regenerate quickly. The maple trees reach 30 meters height and preventing the passage of light, other typical species can not survive.

Currently, there is an agreement between Lago Puelo National Park and the Institute of Artistic and Teaching Trainig Nº 805; this school has an atelier of luthiers where they use the wood of the maples that are removed for the instruments.

The trees are chosen according to the size, status and an important point: the competition of light. Usually the trees selected are thosewith long and straight trunk of 40 centimeters of diameter and healthy bark.

The wood is cut into planks to be left drying for 4 years to avoid splitting. The radial cuts are used to make the tops of the instruments and longitudinal blades of 2 milimeters are used for the side strips.

Thus the problem of the maple´s invasion over the native forests is now controlled and specialist are still working on it, planting native trees in the area. 


In the next post, we are going to know a little more of the Rietman family...