Introduction to Punta Arenas in Patagonia, Chile

Introduction to Punta Arenas in Patagonia, Chile

colorful overview of Punta Arenas in Patagonia, Chile

PUNTA ARENAS is situated picturesquely at the western edge of Patagonia, across the Strait of Magellan from Tierra del Fuego.  The southernmost city in South America, it was named "Punta Arenosa" (Sandy Point) by J. Byron who discovered it in the 17th century.  It was settled as a penal colony in 1848, then attracted immigrants and became one of South America’s most prosperous cities.  That changed when the Panama Canal was built in 1914.  The weather is unpredictable, and I’ve heard people say you can experience four seasons in one day.  Residents counteract the long, gray winters by painting their roofs and houses in bright colors.  It is a popular departure port for Antarctic expeditions. Pack hiking shoes and a windbreaker jacket to wear over layered clothing.  It can get chilly in Chile.



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image copyright 2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers