Guest Column by GeoT
Dateline: 10/26/00
Located at the southern extreme of South America is an archipelago rich in history and beauty. It consists of one large, several smaller, and many tiny islands separated by inlets and channels. Not a top tourist attraction at the present time, but it may well have its day! The place is Tierra del Fuego - the "Land of Fire." (map)
Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to visit this land in 1520 as his expedition made its way around the globe. He named it 'Land of Fire" for the beach fires he observed the aborigines building as a means of keeping warm and for cooking.
Later, Charles Darwin, too, was amazed at the size of the fires and the scant clothing the people wore in this cold place. On one occasion Darwin and crew were near a good size fire and still quite cold, while the aborigines were some distance away and perspiring heavily. Charles noted this with great interest. Consequently, Tierra del Fuego influenced Darwin in several of his thoughts about the development of life. He was impressed with the vast differences between the aborigines and the "civilized" people back home.
To the north of the main island is the Strait of Magellan and to the south is the Beagle Channel -- named for Darwin's ship the HMS Beagle. Tierra del Fuego is a 28,500 square mile archipelago shared by Chile and Argentina, though Chile has the greater share of the land -- almost two-thirds. Originally inhabited by aboriginal groups depending on hunting and gathering for their livelihood, it is a cold, windswept, and rather inhospitable place. The scenery is absolutely supreme! Fjords of the Andean coastline along the Beagle Channel and Strait of Magellan are said to rival those of Scandinavia.
European settlement began in the 1880s when sheep were introduced and gold was discovered. Seals and whaling were of importance too. Since that time, for a variety of reasons, the ethnic population has dwindled to zero. Today, sheep and livestock are still produced, but are of less significance than in the past. There is lumbering along the Beagle Channel and Strait of Magellan, fish and crayfish canning, furs, and Chile's only oil field. Oil platforms are also in the Strait and pipelines lead to a small refinery and a loading dock for shipment to central Chile. Naval vessels re-supply at Chilean and Argentine ports. Transportation is difficult across the island with poor roads, and no railroads. Most interconnection with the world is by sea and by air.
This is a land of cool summers and cold winters. Temperatures range from below zero in the winter to 80°F. in summer. Antarctica is not far away, and cold air masses rolling off that 10,000-foot plateau of ice easily cross the sea to Tierra del Fuego. Westerly winds here can be strong and last for days on end. It was not unusual for a sailing ship to be stalled waiting for the winds to abate.
South and west sides of the main island are part of the Andean Mountain System with peaks over 7,000 feet and mountain glaciers. Vegetation consists of mosses and stunted eastward leaning trees. Beech forests occupy the central island, and grassy plains lie to the north. Annual precipitation ranges from 180 inches in the southwest to a mere 20 inches in the northeast. The northern part of the island is a glacial plain of moraines, lakes, and related features.
Few people live in the region today, the population density is less than two per square mile. Petroleum and tourism drive the economy. Tourism is being promoted worldwide -- with the caveat that the winds of Magellan's day are still a factor in scheduling cruises!
Perhaps the most well known point in this part of the world is Cape Horn. This cape is a steep rocky headland, on Hornos Island to the south of the Beagle Channel. Unlike the famous Cape of Good Hope, whose name is suggested by the violent storms of the Roaring 40s south of Africa, Cape Horn is named for the hometown (Hoorn) of Dutch Captain Willem Schouten who first sailed around it in 1616.
A remote and little known part of the world -- Tierra del Fuego has its role in history and posters in travel agencies today. A beach fire and BBQ of Patagonian lamb may be on the itinerary!
GeoT is a long-time high school geography teacher from Illinois. In addition to geography, he enjoys railroads and model railroads, old Oldsmobiles, and gardening.
