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How did Indigenous peoples of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego survive in harsh environments?

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distribution of aboriginal South American and circum-Caribbean cultural groups — South American Indian Distribution of aboriginal South American and circum-Caribbean cultural groups.

Indigenous peoples of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, such as the Tehuelche and the Ona, survived in these harsh, semi-arid environments by living as nomadic hunter-gatherers.12

Because the region lacked agriculture and domesticated animals (with the possible exception of the dog), these groups relied heavily on hunting guanaco and rhea (the South American ostrich), as well as gathering roots and herbs. In the 18th century, the introduction of the horse significantly transformed the subsistence patterns of the Tehuelche, allowing them to become skilled horse nomads who exploited the brush-covered steppes of Patagonia.12

The population density in these regions was among the sparsest in South America, reflecting the challenges of sustaining life in areas characterized by extreme climates, ranging from the cold, glacial topography of Tierra del Fuego to the dry, windswept plateaus of Patagonia. These groups maintained their traditional ways of life for centuries until the late 19th century, when European colonization and the expansion of sheep ranching led to their displacement and cultural assimilation.2314