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| A view of Puerto Williams Photo: elmagallanico.com |
Puerto Williams, is a small industrial port and Naval Base founded in 1953, capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province, located on the north shore of Navarino Island, southern end of the South American Continent. Independent of the fact that its population is very small, a little less than 3,000 people, Puerto Williams is considered the most southerly town in the world, as its latitude is 54° 56' 00" S, south of the nearby Argentine tourist city of Ushuaia. Unlike the rest of the country, this part of Chile is the only one that borders Argentina on the North and given it is also a Naval Base, there is a significant presence of uniformed personnel. Apart from its singular location in the Globe, other attractions of Puerto Williams lie in its spectacular nature, made up of forests and a mountain range crossed by paths of great beauty, through which we can discover the animal and plant diversity while enjoying the richness of its landscape, dominated by the Beagle Channel, so called in commemoration of the brig that brought the naturalist Charles Darwin in the early nineteenth century.
Another emblematic, world-renowned place within the commune is the legendary Cape Horn, one of the great icons of navigation which marks the end of the American continent. Puerto Williams is located in such a remote area of the World (more than 3500 km. South of Santiago, the Chilean capital) that according to a recent comparative study, its waters are the cleanest on the planet, according to what was said by the US scientist Guido Verbeck, of the University of North Texas.
Places to visit in Puerto Williams and surroundings
Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum
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| Museum and Stirling House to the left Image: registromuseoschile.cl |
Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen
Local Catholic temple, dedicated to the Patron Saint of Chile, very typical building of Puerto Williams. Inside is also the "Virgen de los Loberos" (Patron Saint of Sea Lion hunters), that in ancient times ventured into the sea with their fragile boats.
Prow of the steam tugboat "Yelcho"
In Puerto Williams downtown, at a side of the Liceo (High School), you can see the prow of the "Escampavía Yelcho" (Cutter boat "Yelcho"), a ship belonging to the Chilean Navy that in 1916 carried out the heroic rescue of the Imperial Trans- Antarctic Expedition of Ernest Shackleton at Elephant Island, Chilean Antarctic Territory.Dientes de Navarino Trekking Circuit
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| Image: Lakutaia.com Patagonia & Cape Horn |
"Omora" Ethnobotanical Park
Located 5 km. of Puerto Williams. In this green area, whose name means "Hummingbird",
you can observe the botanical richness of this part of the World, fused
with the ancestral Yagan culture, what makes this park a real outdoor
classroom, besides being a perfect place for scientific tourism. "Parque Etnobotanico Omora"
encourages responsible tourism practices with an improved
infrastructure and through 3 circuits of about two hours each. The tour
is performed with a specialized scientific guide. But "Omora" is not an
ordinary park. Here, since the year 2000 with the collaboration of the New York Botanical Garden,
scientists work to understand and preserve the exuberant diversity of
mosses, lichens and liverworts (a type of bryophytes) present in the
area. Cape Horn and surroundings represent 0.01% of the planet's
surface, but are home to 7% of the diversity of all bryophytes, which
are small green plants, ancient organisms of great scientific
importance.
"Micalvi" Yacht Club
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| Club de Yates "Micalvi" (Micalvi Yacht Club) Image: Hostal Forjadores del Cabo de Hornos - Puerto Williams |
The "Micalvi" was a vessel built in Europe in 1925, bought and used as a cargo ship by the Chilean Navy since 1928. After a hectic life, the ship was stranded in 1961 and used as a mooring point of what is today the Micalvi Yacht Club. Small ships, from all over the World dock here before starting their challenge around Cape Horn and/or the Antarctic Continent, using the natural terrace overlooking the Beagle Channel and the mountainous surroundings of Navarino Island.
"Club de Yates Micalvi" is a unique and welcoming place, with an authentic marine atmosphere left by the hundreds of sailors who have been there, leaving their memories and experiences hanging on the walls either as flags, photos, posters and gifts, all full of dates, dedications and signatures. Currently, many marine services are offered such as to provide of water and electricity, showers, Wifi, diesel fuel, a permanent boatswain at the club, garbage collection apart from other land-based activities including hiking and horseback riding.
"Club de Yates Micalvi" is a unique and welcoming place, with an authentic marine atmosphere left by the hundreds of sailors who have been there, leaving their memories and experiences hanging on the walls either as flags, photos, posters and gifts, all full of dates, dedications and signatures. Currently, many marine services are offered such as to provide of water and electricity, showers, Wifi, diesel fuel, a permanent boatswain at the club, garbage collection apart from other land-based activities including hiking and horseback riding.
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