The Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica is one of the most striking of the fifteen regions that divide Chile. Located at the southern tip of America, in the southern part of Patagonia, bounded on the north by the region of Aisen del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, on the east by Argentina and the west by the Pacific Ocean.

In the Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica can clearly see two areas. The first is located at the tip of South America, has an area of ​​just over 130,000 km ², and it inhabits almost the entire population. This area is separated by the Drake Passage Chilean Antarctic Territory, bounded by the meridians 90 º and 53 º west longitude, latitude 60 ° S and the South Pole, which is officially considered the southern boundary of the country. With an area of ​​1,250,000 km ², Antarctic Territory is a claim made by the Chilean government since 1940 and is subject to the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty, being suspended indefinitely as the claims of other signatory countries.

With a population of around 160,000 inhabitants, this region of Patagonia is administratively composed of the Chilean Antarctica provinces, Magallanes, Tierra del Fuego and Ultima Esperanza. The main cities are Puerto Natales and the regional capital, Punta Arenas.

Punta Arenas is the commercial and industrial center of Magallanes and its many natural resources, the Chilean Antarctica is an important center of scientific activity.

It is one of the world's southernmost city and is located 3090 km from Santiago de Chile. It was founded in 1848 as a military fort to strengthen Chile's claims to sovereignty over the Strait of Magallanes.

Its climate is cold steppe, with an average annual temperature of 6.5 º C, with winds reaching 150 km / h.

Punta Arenas is an important export of wool, hides, sheep meat and wood, with sawmills, tanneries and facilities for the freezing of meat and fish packaging.

Puerto Natales is located on the banks of the breast Ultima Esperanza, near the Cordillera Riesco, 247 km northwest of Punta Arenas and 3103 km from Santiago de Chile. It was founded in 1911 and is the gateway for those wishing to visit the Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave glaciers in the Southern Ice Fields.

Currently is an administrative center of intense commercial and livestock in the province. It has good tourist infrastructure.

The Torres del Paine National Park is located in the town of Torres del Paine, Ultima Esperanza province, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, was created on May 13 1959 and is part of the National System of Protected Areas of the State of Chile.

In Torres del Paine can appreciate some of the most majestic granite formations in the world that have given fame as the main attraction of chilean Patagonia.

On April 28, 1978 was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, which means it is part of the areas representing different ecosystems in the world, and serve as standards for measuring human impacts on the environment.

The Chilean Antarctica are Located almost a thousand miles south of Punta Arenas and its largest population center is Villa Las Estrellas, however this area is home to approximately 1,200 people throughout the year. Among the species of antarctic marine fauna include blue whales, killer whales, elephant seals, Weddell seals, Antarctic fur seals, penguins, Adelie penguins, gentoo, king and emperor Antarctic, as well as birds such as albatross and petrel Antarctic pigeon.

In the Chilean Antarctica are located the President Frei Meteorological Base and the Villa Las Estrellas, home to Chilean families dedicated to research.

How to get there

There are flights from Santiago to Punta Arenas regularly. By land there are buses that travel from Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas arriving through the argentinian Patagonia . In Puerto Montt you can find shipping to Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas and Patagonia in general.

Trips to Antarctica are subject to weather conditions, so check in Punta Arenas frequencies and possibilities for the flight.

Activities

During his visit to Punta Arenas can see the Plaza Muñoz Gamero, Sara Braun and Braun Menéndez Palaces, both declared National Monument.

From Punta Arenas you can visit the Fuerte Bulnes, Magallanes National Reserve and the Cerro Mirador ski resort.

In Puerto Natales are relevant facilities and English-style architecture Fridge Bories industrial complex, founded in 1913 that was built to process cattle from three large rooms in the region. They are also Casino, Municipal Museum, the Plaza de Armas.

Adventure Sport and Outdoor activities like trekking, mountaineering, climbing, biking and horseback riding dominate the Torres del Paine.

Antarctic Tourism comprises enjoy the scenery and marine life that is in this unique place in the world. To get to Antarctica, must do so by plane from Punta Arenas.