Tierra Del Fuego Map other bodies of water Located at the southern tip of South America, the Tierra Del Fuego archipelago includes one large island (18,571 sq miles, 48,100 sq km) in size, and a series of smaller ones. It was reportedly named by the Portuguese adventurer, Ferdinand Magellan, the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe. His chosen route (shown with red arrows) through the Magellan Strait proved to be the fastest and safest connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for sea-going commerce and exploration. The western half of the main island, as well as all islands to the south and southwest are politically part of the Magallanes Region of Chile. Positioned on the edge of the Magellan Strait, the capital city of Punta Arenas was once one of the most important supply stops for mariners of the day, until the Panama Canal opened for business in 1914. The eastern half of the main island is a part of Argentina's Tierra Del Fuego Province; its capital is Ushuaia (the southern-most city on the planet) and the gateway for expeditions and guided tours to Antarctica.

Tierra del Fuego travel guide - Wikitravel For other places with the same name, see Tierra del Fuego (disambiguation) . Tierra del Fuego [1] is an archipelago off the south of South America , separated from the mainland by the Magellan Strait. Understand[ edit ] Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego The 73,753 km² archipelago was divided between Argentina and Chile in 1881. The eastern part belongs to Argentina (the Territory of Tierra del Fuego) and its main towns are Rio Grande and Ushuaia . The western part belongs to Chile (Magallanes province) and its main towns are Porvenir and Puerto Williams . Cape Horn is at the southernmost part of the archipelago, in Chilean land. Islands[ edit ] Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego - The main island, with an area of around 48,000 km², is commonly referred to as Tierra del Fuego or as Isla Grande.

Shaped like a triangle (with its base at the Beagle Channel), the island's main cities are Ushuaia and Rio Grande , both on the eastern, Argentine side. The five medium sized islands and numerous small islands, islets and rocks include: The islands to the south of the Beagle Channel - Hoste, Navarin, Gordon, Londonderry , Stewart and Wollaston. The western group of islands - Clarence Island, Desolation Land and Dawson Island. Cities[ edit ] Ushuaia (Argentina) - Tourist centre of Tierra del Fuego, and base for most excursions, treks and trips to Antarctica . Arguably the most southerly city in the world. Rio Grande (Argentina) - The economic capital of Argentine Tierra del Fuego, its industries include oil, textiles and cattle breeding. Porvenir (Chile) - A small city and base for crossing the Magellan Strait to the mainland. Puerto Williams (Chile) - The only settlement on Naravino Island, and arguably the most southerly town in the world.

Understand[ edit ] "Tierra del Fuego" (Spanish: "Land of Fire") got its name from Ferdinand Magellan who, on passing the archipelago in 1520, spotted a number of fires burning along the coastline. These fires may have been made by the archipelago's aboriginal inhabitants: the Ona, Alakaluf and Yahgan (commonly called Yamana). Four aboriginals were taken from Tierra del Fuego in 1830 by Robert Fitzroy, and were sailed to Britain to meet the King. The three survivors later returned to Tierra del Fuego on the Beagle, with Charles Darwin, who believed the native Fuegans to be "the missing link". The arrival of missionaries, introduction of sheep farming and the discovery of gold in the 1880s led to European, Argentine, and Chilean immigrants, which gradually killed off the native Fuegans. An excellent book on the history of the Yamana and their demise is The Uttermost Part of the Earth by E. Lucas Bridges, the son of one of the early missionaries.

His father, Thomas Bridges, documented what he could of the Yamana language and found that it had a larger vocabulary than the English language. Today, the economy is based on petroleum, tourism, textiles, electronics and, to a decreasing degree, sheep-farming. The western parts of the archipelago form the southernmost tip of the Andes range. The eastern parts are an extension of the Patagonian plateau. Based in the south of Patagonia , the climate is cold but warmer than many assume; in winter, the average temperature is -2 Celsius (28 Fahrenheit). In summer, it can climb to 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), although in reality it rarely rises far beyond 10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit). There are frequent high winds and much rainfall, especially in the coastal areas. Get in[ edit ] There are regular Aerolineas Argentinas flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and Rio Grande . Air services also link major settlements to Punta Arenas in Chile . Buses from all over Argentina enter Tierra del Fuego via Rio Gallegos . NB Buses running from Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia all pass through Chilean land, so include two border crossings.

A regular ship, the ferry Melinka, links Porvenir and Punta Arenas , and naval vessels supply Ushuaia and Isla Navarino , Chile . Ferry at the narrowest part of the Strait of Magellan connects Tierra del Fuego to the mainland Chile at Primera Angostura (between Punta Delgada and Cerro Sombrero) many times from 08:30 A.M. (Continent) to 11:00 P.M. (Island) every day. Crossing Time approx. 20 minutes. Crossing Service at Primera Angostura Get around[ edit ] Roads are poor in Tierra del Fuego, and, apart from the tourist tour train, there are no railways. There is little public transport. However, tours / transport can be booked through the Tourist Office (on San Martin, Ushuaia ) or through many of the hostels. Taxis are another option, costing, for example, Ar$30-50 to get from the city centre to either the airport or Glaciar Martial. There are also several car / bicycle hire companies in Ushuaia.

See[ edit ][ add listing ] Museo Marítimo - Located in Ushuaia's old prison, this excellent museum displays a collection of the history of Tierra del Fuego. Estancia Haberton - Open only in the summer months, Estancia Haberton is a worthwhile trip for those interested in the Bridges family and their role in the local history. Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Hike the Glacier Martial - Provided that you wear comfortable shoes and have the patience, a hike up the Glacier Martial will provide a very beautiful view of Ushuaia and the Beagle Chanel. There is also a single ski slope open during the winter months, and ski hire is available from the site. The cheapest way to get there is by taxi from Ushuaia, which costs Ar$7. Catamaran trips - Catamaran trips will take you around the Beagle channel and give you nice views of the mountains, cormorants, sea lions and penguins. Tierra del Fuego National Park - This national park provide some nice day hikes on well marked trails. Cerro Castor - This centre for winter sports offers skiing and snowboarding.

Nearby, you can also ride snowcats or husky sleighs during the winter. Kayak the Beagle Channel - Kayaks can be hired near Ushuaia's Aeroparque, on the promontory. The King Penguin Rookery - Open Tuesday - Sunday, 11:00-18:00 with an entrance fee of $12.000. About 10 km south east of Onaisin. Fin del Mundo Train- A steam train running from Ushuaia to the national park. Take a cruise - Several cruises operate from Ushuaia, taking in the Beagle Channel and some islands, eg Los Lobos Island. Hike around Lakes Escondido and Fagnano - Beautiful spots to walk, relax, fish, or ride a horse. Take a trip to Cabo San Pablo, Ojo del Albino or Laguna Esmeralda - These sites offer more stunning and rugged scenery. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] A regional specialty is King Crab, called centolla in Spanish, and seafood is usually excellent. Otherwise, local cuIsPartOfe follows the tendencies of Chile and Argentina in general.

Fruit and vegetables have to be transported from thousands of miles away and, as such, are rarely tasty. Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, South America - YouTube Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, South America Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jun 28, 2013 Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of a main island Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego divided between Chile and Argentina with an area of 48,100 km2 (18,572 sq mi), and a group of many islands including Cape Horn and Diego Ramírez Islands. While initially discovered by Ferdinand Magellan's expedition in 1520, it was not settled by people of European descent until the second half of the 19th century at the height of the sheep farming and gold rush booms.

Today, petroleum extraction dominates economic activity in the north of Tierra del Fuego, while tourism, manufacturing and Antarctic logistics are important in the south. The archipelago consists of a main island, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, often called simply Tierra del Fuego or Isla Grande, with an area of 48,100 km2 (18,572 sq mi), and a group of smaller islands. The main island is split between two countries: 18,507.3 km2 (7,146 sq mi) (38.57% of the total area) belongs to Argentina, while 29,484.7 km2 (11,384 sq mi) (61.43% of the total area) belongs to Chile. The archipelago is divided by an east-west channel, the Beagle Channel, immediately south of the main island. The largest islands south of the Beagle Channel are Hoste Island and Navarino Island. The western part of the main island, and almost all the other islands, belong to Chile.

They are part of the Magallanes y Antártica Chilena Region, the capital and chief town of which is Punta Arenas, situated on the mainland across the strait. The biggest Chilean towns are Porvenir, capital of the Chilean Province of Tierra del Fuego, on the main island, and Puerto Williams, on Navarino Island, being the capital of the Antártica Chilena Province. Puerto Toro lies a few kilometers south of Puerto Williams and is arguably the southernmost village in the world. The mostly uninhabited islands north and west of the main island are part of Magallanes Province. The eastern part of the main island, and a few small islands in the Beagle Channel, belong to Argentina, being part of the Tierra del Fuego, Antarctic Territory and South Atlantic Islands Province; its capital is Ushuaia, the biggest city of the archipelago. The other important city in the region is Río Grande on the Atlantic coast. The Darwin Range in the south western part of the main island contains many glaciers that reach the ocean. Mount Darwin is the highest peak at 2,488 metres (8,163 feet).

The geology of the archipelago is characterized by the effects of the Andean orogeny and the repeated Pleistocene glaciations. The geology of the island can be divided into large east-west oriented units. The southwestern islands of the archipelago, including Cape Horn, are part of the Patagonian Batholith, while Cordillera Darwin and the area around Beagle Channel forms the principal codillera hosting the highest mountains. The Magallanes fold and thrust belt extends north of Almirantazgo Fjord and Fagnano Lake, and north of this lies the Magallanes foreland; an old sedimentary basin that hosts hydrocarbon reserves. Orthogneiss dated at 525 million years of age is known to underlie some of the oil wells in northern Tierra del Fuego. The Magallanes-Fagnano Fault, a dextral strike slip fault crosses the southern part of the main island from west to east. It is an active seismic fault, located in inside and parallel to the Fuegian fold and thrust belt marks the boundary between a southern belt of Paleozoic meta sediments and northern Mesozoic belts sedimentary sequences.

The Fagnano Lake occupies an glacier-carved depression in a pull-apart basin developed along the Magallanes-Fagnano Fault zone. Among the most notable animals in the archipelago that are found: austral parakeets, sea gulls, guanacos, foxes, kingfishers, condors, king penguins, owls, and firecrown hummingbirds. North American beavers, introduced during the 1940s, have proliferated and caused considerable damage to the island's forests. There is a widespread program to trap and kill beavers in Tierra del Fuego. Like the mainland of Chile and Argentina to the north, this archipelago boasts some of the finest trout fishing in the world. Sea run brown trout often exceed 9 kg (20 lb), particularly in rivers such as the Rio Grande and San Pablo and in the Lago Fagnano.

Category Tierra del Fuego Guide | Argentina Travel | Rough Guides South America » Argentina » Tierra del Fuego Across the Magellan Strait from mainland Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego is a land of windswept bleakness, whose settlements seem to huddle with their backs against the elements: cold winters, cool summers, gales in the spring, frost in the autumn. Yet this remote and rugged archipelago, tucked away at the foot of the South American continent, exercises a fascination over many travellers. Some look to follow in the footsteps of the region’s famous explorers, such as navigator Ferdinand Magellan, naturalist Charles Darwin or, more recently, author Bruce Chatwin. Others just want to see what it’s like down here, at the very end of the world. While it may be expensive, fast-developing and time-consuming to reach, Tierra del Fuego offers up an easily accessible national park, epic mountain scenery, diverse wildlife, a truly fascinating history and an array of outdoor activities – from hiking and skiing to boat trips and dog-sledding. There’s nowhere else quite like it on Earth.

Though comprising a number of islands, Tierra del Fuego is more or less the sum of its most developed part, Isla Grande, the biggest island in South America. Its eastern section, roughly a third of the island, along with a few islets, belongs to Argentina – the rest is Chilean territory. The major destination for visitors is the Argentine city of Ushuaia , a year-round resort on the south coast. Beautifully located, backed by distinctive jagged mountains, it is the base for visiting the tremendous Beagle Channel , rich in marine wildlife, and the wild, forested peaks of the Cordillera Darwin. With the lakes, forests and tundra of Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego just 12km to the west, and historic Estancia Harberton , home to descendants of Thomas Bridges, an Anglican missionary who settled here in 1871, a short excursion from the city, you could easily spend a week or so in the area.

Lago Fagnano , and the village of Tolhuin at its eastern end, is the main focus of the island’s central area, which is of considerably greater interest than the windswept plains and scrubby coirón grasslands in the north. The southeastern chunk of Isla Grande, Península Mitre , is one of Argentina’s least accessible regions, a boggy wilderness with low scrub and next to no human habitation, while, to its east, lies the mysterious Isla de los Estados, known in English as Staten Island. It is an extremely difficult area to visit, even more than the great white continent of Antarctica , which can be reached from Ushuaia – at a price. Brief history In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan, in his attempt to be first to circumnavigate the globe, sailed through the straits that were later named after him and saw clouds of smoke rising from numerous fires lit by the indigenous Selk’nam along the coast of Isla Grande. He called the land Tierra del Humo (Land of Smoke); it was the king of Spain who thought Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) would be more poetic.

Early contact between indigenous groups and other European explorers was sporadic from the sixteenth century onwards, but this changed dramatically in the latter half of the nineteenth century, with tragic results for the indigenous population. When Robert Fitz Roy came here in the Beagle in the 1830s, an estimated three to four thousand Selk’nam and Mannekenk were living in Isla Grande, with some three thousand each of Yámana and Kawéskar in the entire southern archipelago. By the 1930s, however, the Mannekenk were virtually extinct, and the other groups had been effectively annihilated. White settlement came to Tierra del Fuego in three phases. Anglican missionaries began to catechize the Yámana in the south, and Thomas Bridges established the first permanent mission on Ushuaia Bay in 1871. From the late 1880s, the Italian Roman Catholic Salesian Order began a similar process to the north of the Fuegian Andes.

From the mid-1890s came a new colonizing impetus: the inauspicious-looking northern plains proved to be ideal sheep-farming territory, and vast latifundias sprang up. Croat, Scottish, Basque, Italian and Galician immigrants, along with Chileans from across the border, arrived to work on the estancias and build up their own landholdings. The issue of the international border has been a contentious one over the years, as it has been along other sections of the Argentina–Chile boundary. Frontier disputes at the end of the nineteenth century required the arbitration of Great Britain, who in 1902 awarded Argentina the eastern half of Tierra del Fuego; land squabbles were still going on over eighty years later, the two countries almost coming to war in 1984 over three islands in the Beagle Channel. This time it took the intervention of Pope John Paul II, who, possibly to even things up, gave the islands to Chile. A cordial peace has reigned since.

In 1991, the Argentine sector gained full provincial status and is known as the Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur. Its jurisdiction is seen to extend over all southern territories, including the Islas Malvinas/Falklands Islands, which lie 550km off the coast, and the Argentine segment of Antarctica. Tierra del Fuego’s economy is now dependent on the production of petroleum and natural gas, fisheries, forestry and technological industries, attracted to the area by its status as a duty-free zone. Meanwhile the tourist industry, centred on Ushuaia, continues to expand. Luxury items are comparatively cheap, but basic items such as food are much more expensive than in other parts of the country, owing to the huge distances involved in importing them. Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego | Chile Culture Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego Where is Tierra del Fuego? Located at the bottom of the South American continent is Tierra del Fuego, a territory shared by Argentina and Chile.

The Islands that comprise Tierra del Fuego were discovered by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, who called it Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fires) because of his observation of bonfires on the shores of the island set by the Ona Indians. Shared by Argentina and Chile, the main island Isla Grande or Big Island is the largest island that make up the territory of Tierra del Fuego. Isla Grande is 61.5% or 11,385 sq miles Chilean territory and the rest belongs to Argentina. Both countries also share a series of smaller islands that includes Cape Horn. Puerto Williams is the world’s southernmost town. The topography of southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego is dominated in the west and south by the rugged Andean Mountain chain and in the east by low plains. This geographic characteristic reflects the tectonic structure of the region with granitic intrusions and rocks forming spectacular peaks in certain areas such as Torres del Paine, Cerro Fitzroy and Sarmiento Massif, at an altitude of more than 2000m. As one travels to Tierra del Fuego, south of Puerto Montt, the terrain becomes suddenly dramatic.

Tierra del Fuego is where the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans meet making this region one of the stormiest places on earth. Snow and freezing rain fall almost daily accompanied by endless winds, annual precipitation is over one hundred inches a year. The area called the Archipelago covers about one thousand miles between Puerto Montt and Cape Horn on the southern tip of the continent and it is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magallanes. The western side of the archipelago, from Chiloe to Tierra del Fuego, is composed of a puzzle of small islands and narrow water passageways where colonies of penguins and sea lions live. Isla Grande is 61.5% in Chilean territory. The majority of this territory is cold, wet and inhospitable, but hosts many globally known extreme geographical features such as the archipelago, fjords, the Strait of Magallanes and Cape Horn, the southernmost point of the continent, and the Chilean Antarctic. At the extreme southern part of Chile, the coastal range and the Andes Mountains meet creating an explosion of islands forming a puzzle tangled in channels and fjords. Glaciers, mountains and icebergs intertwine facing the Pacific Ocean.

In the western part of the archipelago we can observe the southernmost tip of the Andes Mountains. Travel to Tierra del Fuego from Santiago de Chile Although it seems isolated and hard to reach Tierra del Fuego is not cut off from the Mainland, it is very accessible to tourists. The easiest and most common way to get to Tierra del Fuego is to fly from the capital Santiago to Punta Arenas and then to Puerto Williams, the world’s southernmost town. There are daily flights to Punta Arenas offered by LAN, Aerolineas del Sur and Aerovias DAP. The direct flight takes about 3 hrs but they are expensive. Usually the best fares involve one or more stops. The connecting flight to Puerto Williams takes about 45 minutes. The town of Puerto Williams is located on the southern edge of the Beagle Channel and was home to the Yamana Indians. The best way to visit Cape Horn is by taking a boat trip to the bottom of the continent where you can visit the Chilean Army base, a lighthouse and chapel. An alternative to flying to Tierra del Fuego is to drive or take the bus to Punta Arenas which will take over 40 hours and multiple stops.

To travel south you will need to fly or to take a vessel as there is no land transportation crossing the archipelago. Tourist on their way to Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn visit the rest of the South Patagonia Region which include the city of Punta Arenas which serves as a base for excursions and attractions; Torres del Paine, penguin colonies, remote fjords, wildlife, Strait of Magellan, Uhuaia in Argentina and Tierra del Fuego National Park among other attractions. Most of tour operators are good and honest and provide a good service for your money. If you decide to travel independently Chile is a safe country and its people very hospitable and welcoming, lodging and food are inexpensive. What to do in Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego offers a wealth of outdoor activities such as world known fly fishing, hiking, wildlife expeditions, biking, sailing and excursions to the End of the World, Cape Horn. For those who have traveled to the uttermost part of the earth getting to the end of RN3 is the ultimate goal. This is in Bahia Lapataia within Tierra del Fuego National Park in the north shore of the Beagle Channel.

Weather in Tierra del Fuego The best time of the year to visit Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego is summertime from December to February as temperatures are warmer and trails accessible. Days are longer in the summer as the sun shines up to 18 hours a day. Temperatures range from 6C to 12C or 43F o 53F. Winds are strong reaching 40 km/hr and higher. Rough waters near Drake Passage Springtime which in the southern hemisphere is October and November and Fall, March and April can be an option as there are less tourists but the weather is not as pleasant as in the summer and days are shorter. Be aware that regardless of the season weather in this part of the world tend to be unpredictable, be ready for sudden changes in weather, rain, sun and strong winds. Related Information VIVA Tierra del Fuego Vacation Guide. Find top-rated Places to Visit in Tierra del Fuego, V!VA Travel Guides Jeff Tierra del Fuego Off the southernmost tip of South America, the Tierra del Fuego archipelago consists of a large main island and hundreds of smaller islands around it.

The center island, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, is split between Chile and Argentina. It is the largest island off South America and also its most visited. The most popular destinations are on the Argentine side, including the town of Ushuaia and the Beagle Chanel, but there are some good spots on the Chile side, too. The island is easily accessible by ferry from both the Chilean and Argentine mainlands. About this Page Tierra del Fuego : definition of Tierra del Fuego and synonyms of Tierra del Fuego (English) / t iː ˈ ɛər ə d ɛ l ˈ f w eɪ ɡ oʊ / , Spanish: [ˈtjera ðel ˈfweɣo] ; Spanish for "Fireland" or "Land of Fire") is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan . The archipelago consists of a main island Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego divided between Chile and Argentina with an area of 48,100 km2 (18,572 sq mi), and a group of smaller islands including Cape Horn .

Initially discovered by Ferdinand Magellan 's expedition in 1520, the islands were not settled by people of European descent until the second half of the 19th century at the height of the sheep farming and gold rush booms . Today's economic activity in the northern part of Tierra del Fuego is dominated by petroleum extraction while in the south tourism, manufacturing and Antarctic logistics are important. The numbers of the native Selk'nam and Yaghans were greatly reduced by introduced diseases and by unequal conflicts with settlers. Today the Selk'nam are practically extinct as a distinct people, with all of their very few descendants being mestizos and their language extinct. Some of the few remaining Yaghans have settled in Villa Ukika in Navarino Island , others have scattered across Chile and Argentina. Tierra del Fuego hosts large areas protected as national parks and reserves, most of them in the mountainous south. Contents The city of Ushuaia Prehistory and European exploration The earliest human settlement occurred circa 8,000 B.C.

The Yaghan people were some of the earliest known humans settling in Tierra del Fuego, with certain recognizable archeological sites at locations such as Navarino Island within the islands of Tierra del Fuego. [1] The name Tierra del Fuego derives from the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan sailing for the Spanish Crown, who was the first European to visit these lands in 1520. He believed he was seeing the many fires (fuego in Spanish) of the Yaghan , which were visible from the sea and that the "Indians" were waiting in the forests to ambush his armada . [2] Originally called the "Land of Smoke", it was later changed to "Land of Fire". The very existence of Tierra del Fuego as one or more islands and not as part of Terra Australis was first inferred by Francisco de Hoces in 1525, then by Francis Drake in 1578 and in 1616 by a Dutch VOC expedition who named Cape Horn .

Four native Fuegians , including " Jemmy Button " (Orundellico), were brought from Tierra del Fuego by Robert FitzRoy on his first voyage with the HMS Beagle in 1830. The surviving three were taken to London to meet the King and Queen, and were to an extent celebrities. They returned to Tierra del Fuego in the Beagle with FitzRoy and Charles Darwin , who made extensive notes about his visit to the islands. Colonization and extinction of Indians (1860–1910) See also: Tierra del Fuego Gold Rush During the second half of the 19th century the archipelago began to come under Chilean and Argentine influence. Both countries sought actively to claim the whole archipelago based on de jure Spanish colonial titles. Salesian missions were established in Río Grande and Dawson Island . An 1879 Chilean expedition led by Ramón Serrano Montaner reported large amounts of placer gold in the streams and river beds of Tierra del Fuego. This prompted a massive immigration to Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego from 1883 and 1909.

Numerous Argentinians, Chileans and Croatians settled in the main island leading to increased conflicts with native Selknam . Julius Popper , a Romanian explorer, was one of the most successful entrepreneurs. Popper, who was granted rights by the Argentine government to exploit any gold deposits he found in Tierra del Fuego, has been pointed as a central figure in what is called the Selknam Genocide . The Selknam and Yaghan populations of Tierra del Fuego declined sharply due to persecution by settlers, diseases and mass transfer to the Salesian mission of Dawson Island , where despite the missionaries' efforts many perished. According to the Boundary treaty of 1881 Tierra del Fuego was divided between Argentina and Chile; previously it was claimed by both countries in its entirety. The gold rushes of the late 19th century led to the founding of numerous small settlements by immigrants, as such as Argentine Ushuaia in was founded in 1884 and Río Grande in 1921, and the Chilean settlements Puerto Toro and Porvenir in 1892 and 1899 respectively.

Recent history (1940–1990) See also: Beagle conflict During the 1940s Chile and Argentina formulated their Antarctic claims, and governments realized the key role of Tierra del Fuego's geographical proximity in backing their claims as well as to supply their Antarctic bases . In the 1950s Chilean military founded Puerto Williams to counter Ushuaia's monopoly as the only settlement in the Beagle Channel , a zone where Argentina disputed the 1881 borders. In the 1960s and 1970s sovereignty claims by Argentina over Picton, Lennox and Nueva Islands in Tierra del Fuego led the two countries to the brink of war in December 1978. Mine fields were deployed in some areas of Tierra del Fuego and bunkers built in the Chilean side as consequence of the threat of an Argentine invasion . The threat of war by Argentina caused the Chilean Pinochet regime to give logistical support and information to the British during the Falklands War of 1982.

Chilean radars supplied the British with information of Argentine jet movements in Tierra del Fuego, from where the Argentine Air Force launched raids on targets in the Falklands. In 1986 the Argentine congress decided to make the Argentine part of Tierra del Fuego into a new province. The law was not promulgated until 26 April 1990. [3] Geography Tierra del Fuego The archipelago consists of a main island, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego , often called simply Tierra del Fuego or Isla Grande, with an area of 48,100 km2 (18,572 sq mi), and a group of smaller islands. The main island is split between two countries: 18,507.3 km2 (7,146 sq mi) (38.57% of the total area) belongs to Argentina , while 29,484.7 km2 (11,384 sq mi) (61.43% of the total area) belongs to Chile .

The archipelago is divided by an east-west channel, the Beagle Channel , immediately south of the main island. The largest islands south of the Beagle Channel are Hoste Island and Navarino Island . The western part of the main island, and almost all the other islands, belong to Chile. They are part of the Magallanes y Antártica Chilena Region , the capital and chief town of which is Punta Arenas , situated on the mainland across the strait. The biggest Chilean towns are Porvenir , capital of the Chilean Province of Tierra del Fuego , on the main island, and Puerto Williams , on Navarino Island, being the capital of the Antártica Chilena Province . Puerto Toro lies a few kilometers south of Puerto Williams and is arguably the southernmost village in the world. The mostly uninhabited islands north and west of the main island are part of Magallanes Province . The eastern part of the main island, and a few small islands in the Beagle Channel, belong to Argentina, being part of the Tierra del Fuego, Antarctic Territory and South Atlantic Islands Province ; its capital is Ushuaia , the biggest city of the archipelago.

The other important city in the region is Río Grande on the Atlantic coast. The Darwin Range in the south western part of the main island contains many glaciers that reach the ocean. Mount Darwin is the highest peak at 2,488 metres (8,163 feet). Geology The geology of the archipelago is characterized by the effects of the Andean orogeny and the repeated Pleistocene glaciations . The geology of the island can be divided into large east-west oriented units. The southwestern islands of the archipelago, including Cape Horn , are part of the Patagonian Batholith , while Cordillera Darwin and the area around Beagle Channel forms the principal codillera hosting the highest mountains. The Magallanes fold and thrust belt extends north of Almirantazgo Fjord and Fagnano Lake , and north of this lies the Magallanes foreland; an old sedimentary basin that hosts hydrocarbon reserves . [4] Orthogneiss dated at 525 million years of age is known to underlie some of the oil wells in northern Tierra del Fuego.

[5] The Magallanes-Fagnano Fault , a dextral strike slip fault crosses the southern part of the main island from west to east. It is an active seismic fault , located in inside and parallel to the Fuegian fold and thrust belt marks the boundary between a southern belt of Paleozoic meta sediments and northern Mesozoic belts sedimentary sequences. The Fagnano Lake occupies an glacier-carved depression in a pull-apart basin developed along the Magallanes-Fagnano Fault zone. [6] Climate Map showing annual isotherms and precipitation isolines in Magallanes Region . Puerto Williams ' location is shown by a red dot. Hoste Island , Chile This region has an oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfc) with short, cool summers and long, wet, moderately mild winters: the precipitation averages 3,000 mm (118 in) a year in the far west, but precipitation decreases rapidly to the eastern side. Temperatures are steady throughout the year: in Ushuaia they hardly surpass 9 °C (48 °F) in summers and average 0 °C (32 °F) in winters.

Snowfall can occur in summer. The cold and wet summers help preserve the ancient glaciers . The southernmost islands possess a sub antarctic climate typical of tundra that makes the growth of trees impossible. Some areas in the interior have a polar climate. Regions in the world with similar climates to southern Tierra del Fuego are: Aleutian islands , Iceland, Alaska Peninsula , Faroe Islands , Macquarie Island and Heard and McDonald Islands . Flora Only 30% of the islands have forests, which are classified as Magellanic sub polar ; the northeast is made up by steppe and cool semi desert. There are six species of tree found in Tierra del Fuego: Canelo or Winter's Bark ( Drimys winteri ), Maytenus magellanica , Pilgerodendron uviferum the southernmost conifer in the world, and three kinds of Southern Beech ; Nothofagus antarctica , Nothofagus pumilio and the evergreen Nothofagus betuloides . Fruits grow in open spaces in these forests, such as beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis var.

chiloensis forma chiloensis) and calafate (Berberis buxifolia), which were and are collected respectively by Indians and countrymen. [7] These forests are unique in the world for having developed in a climate with such cold summers. Tree cover extends very close to the southernmost tip of South America. Winds are so strong that trees in wind-exposed areas grow twisted by the force of winds, and people call the trees "flag-trees" for the shape that they need to take in the fight with the wind. Tree vegetation extends as far south as the Isla de los Estados , Navarino Island and the north of Hoste Island . At altitudes above 500 m (1,640 ft), dwarf nothofagus communities are found. Going further south, Wollaston Islands and the south of Hoste Island are covered by sub antarctic tundra . Flora in Tierra del Fuego Nothofagus betuloides Forests from Tierra del Fuego have expanded beyond local importance; they have been a source of trees that have been planted abroad in places with practically the same climate but which were originally devoid of trees like Faroe Islands and nearby archipelagos.

Most species were gathered from the coldest places in Tierra del Fuego, sites mainly with tundra borders. This effort resulted in positive changes, as the heavy winds and cool summers in the Faroe Islands did not allow the growth of trees from other regions in the world. The imported trees are used ornamentally, as curtains against wind, and for fighting erosion caused by storms and grazing in the Faroe Islands. [8] Fauna See also: Beaver eradication in Tierra del Fuego Sea lions at the Beagle Channel near Ushuaia Among the most notable animals in the archipelago that are found: Austral Parakeets , gulls , guanacos , foxes, kingfishers , condors , King Penguins , owls , and firecrown hummingbirds . North American beaver , introduced in the 1940s, have proliferated and caused considerable damage to the island's forests. [9] Like mainland Chile and Argentina to the north, the archipelago boasts some of the finest trout fishing in the world. Sea Run Brown Trout often exceed 9 kg (20 lb), particularly in rivers such as the Rio Grande and San Pablo and in the Lago Fagnano .

Much of this water is private, catch and release and fly fishing only.[ citation needed ] Economy Today the main economic activities are fishing, natural gas and oil extraction, sheep farming and ecotourism . Tourism is gaining importance and becoming an ever more important part of the region’s economy attracting increasing numbers of upmarket visitors. Much of the tourism is based on claims of "southernmost" things, for example both Ushuaia and Puerto Williams claim to be the southernmost city in the world. On the Argentine side of Tierra del Fuego the government has promoted the establishment of several electronic companies . Energy production is a crucial economic activity. On the Argentine side of Tierra del Fuego during the 2005 to 2010 period, petroleum and natural gas extraction contributed to 20% of the region’s economic output. [10] See also Isla Martillo (Pingüinera), Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, South America - YouTube Isla Martillo (Pingüinera), Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, South America Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video?

Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jun 14, 2013 Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of a main island Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego divided between Chile and Argentina with an area of 48,100 km2 (18,572 sq mi), and a group of many islands including Cape Horn and Diego Ramírez Islands. While initially discovered by Ferdinand Magellan's expedition in 1520, it was not settled by people of European descent until the second half of the 19th century at the height of the sheep farming and gold rush booms. Today, petroleum extraction dominates economic activity in the north of Tierra del Fuego, while tourism, manufacturing and Antarctic logistics are important in the south. During the 1940s Chile and Argentina formulated their Antarctic claims, and governments realized the key role of Tierra del Fuego's geographical proximity in backing their claims as well as to supply their Antarctic bases.

In the 1950s Chilean military founded Puerto Williams to counter Ushuaia's monopoly as the only settlement in the Beagle Channel, a zone where Argentina disputed the 1881 borders. In the 1960s and 1970s sovereignty claims by Argentina over Picton, Lennox and Nueva Islands in Tierra del Fuego led the two countries to the brink of war in December 1978. Mine fields were deployed in some areas of Tierra del Fuego and bunkers built in the Chilean side as consequence of the threat of an Argentine invasion. The threat of war by Argentina caused the Chilean Pinochet regime to give logistical support and information to the British during the Falklands War of 1982. Chilean radars supplied the British with information of Argentine jet movements in Tierra del Fuego, from where the Argentine Air Force launched raids on targets in the Falklands. In 1986 the Argentine congress decided to make the Argentine part of Tierra del Fuego into a new province. The law was not promulgated until 26 April 1990.

The archipelago consists of a main island, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, often called simply Tierra del Fuego or Isla Grande, with an area of 48,100 km2 (18,572 sq mi), and a group of smaller islands. The main island is split between two countries: 18,507.3 km2 (7,146 sq mi) (38.57% of the total area) belongs to Argentina, while 29,484.7 km2 (11,384 sq mi) (61.43% of the total area) belongs to Chile. The archipelago is divided by an east-west channel, the Beagle Channel, immediately south of the main island. The largest islands south of the Beagle Channel are Hoste Island and Navarino Island. The western part of the main island, and almost all the other islands, belong to Chile. They are part of the Magallanes y Antártica Chilena Region, the capital and chief town of which is Punta Arenas, situated on the mainland across the strait.

The biggest Chilean towns are Porvenir, capital of the Chilean Province of Tierra del Fuego, on the main island, and Puerto Williams, on Navarino Island, being the capital of the Antártica Chilena Province. Puerto Toro lies a few kilometers south of Puerto Williams and is arguably the southernmost village in the world. The mostly uninhabited islands north and west of the main island are part of Magallanes Province. The eastern part of the main island, and a few small islands in the Beagle Channel, belong to Argentina, being part of the Tierra del Fuego, Antarctic Territory and South Atlantic Islands Province; its capital is Ushuaia, the biggest city of the archipelago. The other important city in the region is Río Grande on the Atlantic coast. The Darwin Range in the south western part of the main island contains many glaciers that reach the ocean. Mount Darwin is the highest peak at 2,488 metres (8,163 feet). The southernmost islands possess a sub antarctic climate typical of tundra that makes the growth of trees impossible. Some areas in the interior have a polar climate.

Regions in the world with similar climates to southern Tierra del Fuego are: Aleutian islands, Iceland, Alaska Peninsula, Faroe Islands, Macquarie Island and Heard and McDonald Islands. Among the most notable animals in the archipelago that are found: austral parakeets, sea gulls, guanacos, foxes, kingfishers, condors, king penguins, owls, and firecrown hummingbirds. North American beavers, introduced during the 1940s, have proliferated and caused considerable damage to the island's forests. There is a widespread program to trap and kill beavers in Tierra del Fuego. Like the mainland of Chile and Argentina to the north, this archipelago boasts some of the finest trout fishing in the world. Sea run brown trout often exceed 9 kg (20 lb), particularly in rivers such as the Rio Grande and San Pablo and in the Lago Fagnano. Much of this water is privately owned, with catch and release and fly fishing only.

Category Tierra del Fuego Vacations 2017: Explore Cheap Vacation Packages | Expedia Tierra del Fuego Vacations 2017: Explore Cheap Vacation Packages | Expedia Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego, current page Previous image, 30 total items. Next image, 30 total items. Tierra del Fuego Vacation Packages Enchanting mountain scenery, diverse native wildlife and thrilling outdoors adventures await in the Land of Fire, a remote province and gateway to Antarctica. Tierra del Fuego is a mystical, inspiring and humbling region featuring glacial landscapes, soaring mountains and turquoise lakes. Visit historic homesteads and try outdoor adventures such as skiing and dogsledding. Situated across the Magellan Strait from Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego is South America’s southernmost point. The province is part of an isolated archipelago shared between Argentina and Chile. You’ll find major towns and attractions spread around Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, the archipelago’s largest island. Visit Ushuaia, a port city under the shadow of the Martial Glacier. Hike or ride a chairlift to the glacier’s summit.

Discover 1,606 acres (650 hectares) of skiable terrain at Cerro Castor, the world’s most southerly ski resort. Go dogsledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at Valle de Lobos. Explore the Beagle Channel on a boat cruise or kayaking excursion. Get up-close to sea lions and penguins or spot waterfowl at Isla de los Pajaros. Take a guided tour of Estancia Harberton, one of Argentina’s oldest homesteads. Ride the Tren del Fin del Mundo to Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, where walking trails weave through dense forests to placid lakes. About a 90-minute drive northeast from Ushuaia is the sleepy town of Tolhuin. It’s worth visiting for horseback riding, hiking, mountain-biking and fishing on and around Lago Fagnano. Go to Río Grande, in the region’s north, for superb trout fishing opportunities. Venturesome travelers might want to brave the extreme weather conditions of the Drake Passage and visit the wilderness of Antarctica. Cruise past towering icebergs and take short hikes into the harsh southern land.

Tierra del Fuego is a year-round destination, although expect icy winds and low temperatures in winter. The ski season is from June to September, and Antarctica-bound cruises depart from late October to late March. Get here by flying to Ushuaia’s international airport or catch a bus from Río Gallegos. Tierra del Fuego presents a great mix of adventure, natural beauty and the chance to retrace the footsteps of famous explorers. Book your Vacation in Tierra del Fuego

Question: Which country owns most of the main island of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego?
Answer: Chile