| Punta Arenas Magallanes |
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  Punta Arenas
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Chile |
| Region | XII - Magallanes y Antártica Chilena |
| Province | Magallanes |
| Founded as | Punta Arenas |
| Foundation | 1848,December 18 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Juan Enrique Morano Cornejo (2000-2008) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 17,526. The Straits of Magellan (rarely referred to as the Magellanic Straits) comprise a navigable sea route immediately south of mainland Chile and north of Isla Grande Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Geography This region contains mountainous peaks and Glaciers in the far north including elements of the Patagonian Ice Sheet. Magallanes Province is part of the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, located on the Northern coast of the Strait of Magellan, its capital city is Punta Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 3 km² (6,766. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 9 sq mi) |
| Population (2002) | |
| - Total | 130,136 |
| - Density | 6. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 8/km² (17. 6/sq mi) |
| Area code(s) | 61 |
| Website: http://www.puntaarenas.cl | |
Punta Arenas (literally in Spanish: "Sandy Point") is the most prominent settlement on the Strait of Magellan and the capital of the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile. The Patagones or Patagonian giants are a mythical race of people who first began to appear in early European accounts of the then little-known region and coastline The Straits of Magellan (rarely referred to as the Magellanic Straits) comprise a navigable sea route immediately south of mainland Chile and north of Isla Grande Geography This region contains mountainous peaks and Glaciers in the far north including elements of the Patagonian Ice Sheet. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the
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Etymology
The 17th century explorer John Byron is sometimes given credit for the naming. Vice-Admiral John Byron, RN ( November 8, 1723 – April 10, 1786) was an English Vice-admiral. But it was not until much later than any sort of city was settled by the Chilean government (1843). The name Punta Arenas grew out of the Spanish term 'Punta Arenosa', which was a literal translation of the English name 'Sandy Point'. The city has also been known as "Magallanes" though today that term is normally used to describe the administrative region which includes the city. Punta Arenas has also been called "the city of the red roofs" for the red-painted metal roofs that characterised the city for many years, although since about 1970 the availability of other colours in protective finishes for the characteristic metal roofing has resulted in greater variety.
A homonym city is located in the northern area of Peru, in the city of Talara. Punta Arenas is a well-known private beach area belonging to PetroPerú, the Peruvian oil company.
Geography
Punta Arenas is claimed to be the world's southernmost city. (Ushuaia, Argentina, also makes this claim and is further south, but has only half the population of Punta Arenas). Ushuaia (u'swaia is the capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego and is sometimes considered to be the southernmost city in the world For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Punta Arenas is the third largest city in the entire Patagonian Region, after the more northerly Argentine cities of Neuquén and Comodoro Rivadavia. Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia is a city in the Patagonian province of Chubut in southern Argentina, located In 2002, it had a population of 120,000. [1] It is roughly 1418. 4 km from the coast of Antarctica.
The Magallanes region is considered part of Chilean Patagonia. Magallanes is Spanish for Magellan, the explorer who, while circumnavigating the earth for Spain, passed close to the present site of Punta Arenas in 1520. Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão de Magalhães fɨɾˈnɐ̃ũ dɨ mɐgɐˈʎɐ̃ĩʃ Fernando de Magallanes (Spring 1480 &ndash April 27 1521 Mactan Island, Cebu
Located on the Brunswick Peninsula, Punta Arenas is the southernmost city of its size in the world. Brunswick Peninsula (Península de Brunswick is a large peninsula in Magallanes y la Antártica Region, Patagonia, Chile, at. Early English navigational documents referred to its location as "Sandy Point. "
The city proper is located on the northeastern shore of Brunswick Peninsula. Besides the eastern shore, with the settlements of Guairabo, Rio Amarillo and Punta San Juan, the peninsula is largely uninhabited. The municipality (commune) of Punta Arenas includes all of Brunswick Peninsula, as well as all islands west of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego and north of Cockburn Channel and Magdalena Channel. Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (literally Great Island of the Land of Fire) is an island near the southern tip of South America from which it is separated by The largest of those are:
- Santa Inés Island
- Desolación Island
- Dawson Island
- Aracena Island
- Clarence Island
- Carlos Island
- Wickham Island
Except Dawson Island, with a population of about 301 in 2002, the islands are largely uninhabited. Santa Inés Island is an Island in southern Chile, part of the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago and of Punta Arenas municipality Desolación Island is an island at the westend of the Strait of Magellan in the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile. Dawson Island (Lat 5397º S Long 7058º W is an island in the Strait of Magellan that forms part of the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago Aracena Island (also called Captain Aracena Island) (Spanish Isla Aracena or Isla Capitán Aracena) is an island in the Patagonian Archipelago Clarence Island (Spanish Isla Clarence) is an island in the Patagonian Archipelago, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile. Clarence Island had a population of just five.
History
Two early Spanish settlements attempted along this coast (on the Straits of Magellan), including the first (1584), called Nombre de Jesús, failed in large part due to the harsh weather and difficulty in obtaining food and water, and the enormous distances from other Spanish ports. A second colony, Rey don Felipe, was attempted at another location some 80 kilometers south of Punta Arenas. This became known later as Puerto Hambre, sometimes translated as Port Starvation or Famine Port. Puerto Hambre, also known as Puerto del Hambre and at one time as Port Famine, is a historic settlement site at Buena Bay on the west side of the Strait These Spanish settlements had been established with the intent to prevent piracy by English pirates, by controlling the Straits of Magellan. Ironically it was an English pirate captain, Thomas Cavendish, who rescued the last surviving member of Puerto Hambre in 1587. Sir Thomas Cavendish (or Candish) (1560-1592 was known as "the Navigator" because he was the first who deliberately set out to circumnavigate
As said above, on the year 1843 the Chilean government sent an expedition with the appointed task of establishing a permanent settlement on the shores of the Strait of Magellan. For this it built and commissioned a small sail ship called Goleta Ancud, which under the command of the British sailor John Williams transported a crew of 21 people (captain, eighteen crew, two women), plus cargo, to accomplish the mandate of the Chilean government. The founding act of the settlement took place on the 21st of September 1843.
Although the site was perfectly suited for a military garrison with the mission of coastal defence, since it is located on top of a small rocky peninsula, it was ill prepared to become a proper civilian settlement. With this in mind the Military Governor, José de los Santos Mardones, decided in 1848 to move the settlement to its current location, on the sides of the Las Minas river, renaming it Punta Arenas.
In the mid-19th century, Chile used Punta Arenas as a penal colony and a disciplinary posting for military personnel with "problematic" behaviour, as well as a place for immigrant colonisation. In December 1851, a prisoners' mutiny led by Lieutenant Cambiaso, resulted in the murder of Governor Muñoz Gamero and the priest, and the destruction of the church and the hospital. [2] The mutiny was put down by Commander Stewart of HMS Virago assisted by two Chilean ships: Indefatigable and Meteoro. Admiral Sir William Houston Stewart (1822-1901 was a British naval officer who was Controller of the Royal Navy from 1872 to 1881 [3][4] In 1877 a mutiny, known as "El Motín de los Artilleros" (Mutiny of the Artillerymen) led to the destruction of a large part of the town and the murder of many civilians not directly associated with the prison. In time the city was restored and with the growth of the sheep industry and the discovery of gold, as well as increasing trade via sailing ships, began to prosper. Between about 1890 and 1940, the Magallanes region became one of the world's most important sheep-raising regions, with one company (Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego) controlling over 10,000 square kilometres in southern Chile and Argentina. The headquarters of this company and the residences of the owners were in Punta Arenas. Visitors today can get a glimpse of the economic stature of the city, or at least of its leading citizens, by touring the Sarah Braun museum (sometimes called Braun-Menéndez mansion) in the center of Punta Arenas. Other popular attractions include the two nearby rookeries for Magellanic penguins, and the rebuilt site of the failed Fuerte Bulnes settlement. The Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus, is a South American Penguin, breeding in coastal Argentina, Chile and the
The Punta Arenas harbour, although exposed to storms, was considered one of the most important in Chile before the construction of the Panama Canal, because it was used as a coaling station by the steamships transiting between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Panama Canal is a man-made Canal in Panama which joins the A coaling station is a Seaport built for the purpose of replenishing supplies including but by no means limited to Coal. Today it is mostly used by tourism cruises and scientific expeditions. The city is often a jumping-off point for Antarctic expeditions, although Ushuaia (Argentina)and Christchurch (New Zealand) are are also common starting points. Ushuaia (u'swaia is the capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego and is sometimes considered to be the southernmost city in the world For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Christchurch (Ōtautahi The largest City in the South Island, it is also the second largest city and third largest urban area of New Zealand New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island [5]
Economy
By 2006 the economy of Punta Arenas and the region had diversified considerably, and the city is vibrant and modern. Chile's principal oil reserves, though small, are located here, along with some low-grade coal. A modern methanol plant is located a short distance from the city. Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a Chemical compound Agricultural production, including sheep and cattle, continues to play a significant role, while tourism has contributed to its popularity and steady growth. Fisheries and silviculture are also significant here. Silviculture is the art and science of controlling the establishment growth composition health and quality of Forests to meet diverse needs and values of the many landowners A regular ferry service connects Punta Arenas with the main island of Tierra del Fuego and a less frequent ferry runs to the Chilean town of Puerto Williams. Tierra del Fuego ( Spanish for " Land of Fire " in English tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ] Spanish ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo is an Archipelago Puerto Williams ( Spanish for "Port Williams" is a Chilean port located on Isla Navarino facing the Beagle Channel. A modern airport serves international connections and is often a stopping point for aircraft going to or coming from Antarctica. Paved highways connect Punta Arenas with Argentina. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics.
Since the Falklands War, when transport ties were severed between the Falkland Islands and continental Argentina, Punta Arenas has become a major outside link to the archipelago. The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics.
Demography
Note the majority of its population, although Chilean, have other European ancestries, especially when it was a colony of immigration: Spaniards, Portuguese, Croatians, British (English, Welsh and Scottish), Irish, Germans, Dutch and Scandinavians came in the early days of Punta Arenas (late 19th century) when it was such a highly visited trans-oceanic port. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west Croats (Hrvati are a South Slavic people mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries The Scots people ( Scots Gaelic: Albannaich) are a Nation and an Ethnic group indigenous to Scotland. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as The Dutch people ( Dutch:) are the dominant Ethnic group of the Netherlands. Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Punta Arenas was said to be the largest Croatian community outside Croatia and former Yugoslavia even the city had a branch of the Bank of Yugoslavia (called Banco de Yugoslavia del Chile), while British travellers described the presence of Scottish culture in the Punta Arenas area like a "Little Scotland" and some Danish sailors said the number of Danes and Swedes in the city is like visiting a "lost colony" of Scandinavia in South America. Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between See also Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian The term Dane may refer to People with a Danish ancestral or ethnic identity whether living in Denmark, emigrants or the descendants of emigrants Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well
Climate
The seasonal temperature in Punta Arenas is greatly moderated by its proximity to the ocean, with weather.com specifying average lows in July near −1 °C (31 °F) and highs in January of 14 °C (57 °F). The Weather Channel (also TWC) is a commercially-sponsored US This is not to say that it is known for stable constant temperatures, only small variability with season. Punta Arenas is also quite dry, with only 43 mm (1. 7 inches) of rain in its wettest month of May. Among Chileans the city is also known for its strong winds (up to 130 km/hour). Winds tend to be strongest during the summer when city officials put up ropes in the downtown area to assist with unique wind currents created by the buildings.
In September 2000, Punta Arenas was the first significantly populated city in the world to be directly affected by the hole in the ozone layer, exposing its residents to potentially damaging levels of ultraviolet radiation.
Tourism
Patagonia is recognized worldwide for amazing sights and wilderness. Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Interesting places to visit include:
- Penguin colonies in Seno Otway and Magdalena Island. Penguins ( order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flightless Birds living almost Seno Otway is a large inland sound lying between Brunswick Peninsula and Riesco Island. Magdalena Island (Spanish Isla Magdalena) is a small island in the Strait of Magellan, Chile
- Rey Jorge Island Natural Sea Park (whale observation).
- Torres del Paine National Park, near Puerto Natales. Puerto Natales is a city in the Chilean Patagonia, located northwest of Punta Arenas and is the final port of call for the Navimag ferry sailing from Puerto
- Seno Skyring
- Puerto Hambre, an early Spanish colony which failed and under the name of Port Famine became a Royal Navy base. Puerto Hambre, also known as Puerto del Hambre and at one time as Port Famine, is a historic settlement site at Buena Bay on the west side of the Strait The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) It was here that Captain Pringle Stokes, the captain of HMS Beagle, shot himself in his cabin due to severe depression and temporary command was given to Lieutenant W. First Voyage On 27 September 1825 Beagle docked at Woolwich for repairs and fitted out for her new duties at a total cost of £5913 G. Skyring.
- Fauna Patagónica "Estancia Lolita". A beautiful place for watching different species of native animals and birds. *Fauna Patagónica "Estancia Lolita"
The city of Punta Arenas has a rich history, reflected in places such as:
- Punta Arenas and shipping port area.
- Regional Museum, with historical artifacts and part of the Braun-Menéndez Mansion.
- Maggiorino Borgatello Museum, Salesian Society museum of natural history and prehispanic ethnic groups. The Salesians of Don Bosco (or the Salesian Society, originally known as the Society of St
- Punta Arenas Cemetery, dates back to 1840's.
Sister Cities
Punta Arenas has the following sister city relationships, according to Bellingham Sister Cities Association, and Sister Cities International:
Recently, Punta Arenas had a trans-national cultural exchange program with Scotland. Bellingham, Washington is the County seat of Whatcom County in the U The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Split (Spalatum Ancient Greek: Aspálathos, Ασπάλαθος Spalato is the largest and most important Dalmatian city the second-largest Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain.
Gallery
 Catedral of Punta Arenas |
 A view of the city's central part from Cerro La Cruz |
 One of many Croatian tombs at the town's municipial cemetery |
 A view of the city's southern part from Cerro La Cruz |
Notes
- ^ Interactive map, INE Census 2002, Chile. (Click on XII Region and then on Punta Arenas)
- ^ Punta Arenas, History and Legends.
- ^ History HMS Virago
- ^ Brown, Charles H., Insurrection at Magellan. Narrative of the Imprisonment and Escape of Capt. Chas. H. Brown, from the Chilian Convicts, published by Geo. C. Rand, Boston, Second Edition, 1854.
- ^ Punta Arenas example
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Claim that New Zealand is still the jumping-off point for today's expeditions to Antarctica, and the home of several Antarctic research institutes.
[http://www.pacificislandbooks.com/antarctica.htm Christchurch. . . is still the major jumping off point for Antarctica. It hosts the International Antarctic Centre, a place well worth a visit.
See also
External links
- portal de la ciudad
- Municipalidad de Punta Arenas
- La Prensa Austral. The 1949 Tierra del Fuego earthquake was a seismic movement that took place in the island of Tierra del Fuego, on 17 December 1949, at 065330
- General information about Punta Arenas.
- Satellite picture by Google Maps
- Traveling to Punta Arenas: How to get there.
- [1] Study linking the ozone hole to Cancer, by Jaime F. Abarca, M. D, Dermatology unit, Hospital Regional de Punta Arenas, Punta Arenas, Chile.
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