Ushuaia, Argentina

Another early morning, this time really early at 3:45, to leave Buenos Aires to fly to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Ushuaia is the capital of Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Argentina. It is the contested world’s southernmost city. Puerto Williams, Chile which is slightly farther south along the Beagle Channel also claims this, but has a population of around 2000, compared to Ushuaia’s 82,000. Because of the much smaller population, some classify Puerto Williams as the world’s southernmost town.

Ushuaia has been occupied by the Selk’nam and Yaghan indigenous people for thousands of years. In 1833 the HMS Beagle reached Ushuaia during its maiden voyage. In the later 19th century British surveyors and missionaries came to the area. Argentinians soon followed. in 1895 the town was established as a prison for the most violent prisoners and repeat offenders. The prison operated until 1947.

The town today is a center for tourism with the Tierra del Fuego National Park, which can be entered using the End of the World Train, the southernmost functioning railway in the world. The Ushuaia offers a golf club and skiing, depending on the time of the year. One of the biggest reasons people visit is to launch on cruises to the Antarctic, which is why we came.