Quiz - where are we?

Trivia time - where are we?

At the beach?

Japan?

Skiing?

Australia?

Bavaria?

The Himalayas?

Or around Puerto Montt in Chile?

Of course, the last is correct - Paul with the llama is a give away.  This remote region at the start of the Chilean fjords and Patagonia was initially developed in the post Colombian period in the 1850s as previous habitation was sparse and the land covered by dense forest.  In a effort to expand the region  German immigrants were encouraged to clear the area, enticed by attractive land grants.  The land was supposed to resemble the climate of parts of Germany and they brought their crops, fruit trees and cattle with them and their farming achievements and descendants remain. 

The outstanding natural beauty of the area was recognised more recently and it has become a local tourist destination incorporating the OrsonoVolcano, Lake Llanquihue, the fringe of the Andes and Petrohue Falls.  Both lupins and fuchsia are endemic to this area;  more recently a huge farmed salmon business has been established in the pristine waters.

We were told it rained 300 days a year, but it's obvious we had a glorious day. Here's some more photos of the stunning Orsono Volcano and Lake Llanquihue: