Tierra del Fuego

:For other places named "Tierra del Fuego" see Tierra del Fuego (disambiguation).

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Tierra del Fuego (Spanish: Land of Fire) is an archipelago at the southernmost tip of South America. In 1881 it was divided between Argentina and Chile. The archipelago consists of a main island (Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, often called Tierra del Fuego as well), and a group of smaller islands. It is separated from the continent by the Strait of Magellan. The southern point of the archipelago, in Chile, forms Cape Horn.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Archipelago - South America - 1881 - Argentina - Chile - Island - Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego - Continent - Strait of Magellan - Cape Horn

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The main industries are oil, natural gas, sheep farming and ecotourism. The largest island is Tierra del Fuego, or Isla Grande, with an area of 48,100 km². Half of this island, and the islands west and south of it, are part of the Magallanes Region of Chile, the capital and chief town of which is Punta Arenas, situated on the mainland across the strait. The biggest Chilean towns are Porvenir, on the main island, and Puerto Williams, on Navarino Island. Puerto Toro lies a few kilometers south of Puerto Williams and is the southernmost town in the world.

Related Topics:
Oil - Natural - Sheep - Farming - Ecotourism - Magallanes Region - Punta Arenas - Porvenir - Puerto Williams - Navarino Island - Puerto Toro

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The eastern part of the archipelago belongs to Argentina, being part of the Tierra del Fuego Province; its capital, Ushuaia, is the world's most southerly city, the other important town being Rio Grande, near the Atlantic coast.

Related Topics:
Tierra del Fuego Province - Ushuaia - Rio Grande

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Its name comes from Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first European to pass it in 1520, he (likely incorrectly) believed he was seeing the many fires (fuego in Spanish) of the Amerindians, which were visible from the sea. He believed that the "Indians" were waiting in the forests to ambush his armada. It is however, more likely that the fires he witnessed were from natural sources such as lightning.

Related Topics:
Ferdinand Magellan - 1520 - Amerindians

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Four native Fuegians, including "Jemmy Button" (Orundellico), were brought from Tierra del Fuego by Robert Fitzroy on the first voyage of the Beagle in 1830. They were taken to meet the King and Queen in London and were to an extent celebrities. The surviving three returned to Tierra del Fuego with the Beagle with Charles Darwin, who made extensive notes about his visit to the islands.

Related Topics:
Jemmy Button - Robert Fitzroy - Beagle - 1830 - London - Charles Darwin

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