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Ushuaia Hotels
Ushuaia Hotels Reservation
Tierra del Fuego was discovered by Magellan in 1520. The territory was named this way when sailors sighted some strange fires on the Southern coast of the continent. The explorers promptly called the area "Land of Fire" or "Tierra del Fuego".
The easiest way to explore the channels and straits that lie at the tip of the continent is from Tierra del Fuego and the city of Ushuaia.
The exotic animals found in this region include wildcats, pumas, deer, rheas, eagles, and condors and creatures of the sea like penguins, sea elephants, sea gulls, sea lions, and whales.
Ushuaia, the world's Southern-most city, features old wooden houses of steep metal sheet roofs made to avoid snow accumulation. It is located on the Beagle Channel which starts in the mainland and leads out to sea and on to Antarctica.
Cruises to the Antarctic also frequently depart from Ushuaia. The sail to the end of the Earth proudly shows the magnificence of Antarctica, where nature can be seen in its full splendor, untouched by man.
Another interesting cruise takes you from Ushuaia, up the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, all the way to the Chilean city of Punta Arenas. Cruises run regularly from October through April and the cruise can take from 3 to 7 days. One popular cruise liner is the Mare Australis.
The Beagle Channel
Named for Charles Darwin's ship, The HMS Beagle, the Beagle Channel divides Argentine Tierra del Fuego from Chilean Tierra del Fuego. A number of popular excursions down the channel will give visitors the chance to watch seals, sea-lions, penguins, petrels, cormorants, Kelp geese and perhaps the black breasted albatross. This trip runs several times a day from mid-October to mid-April.
Tierra del Fuego National Park
In the National Park of Tierra del Fuego there are many species of life including the red fox, guanaco, beaver, and condor. The park also offers beautiful views of the Beagle Channel and the Bay of Lapataia. The mountain islands and lovely beaches along the bay are all part of the fascinating views. Visitors are advised to take plenty of warm, dry clothes as the weather can be bitter even in summer.
Museo del Fin del Mundo
The Museum of the End of the World is dedicated to the history and culture of the area. It has a number of rooms devoted to the local Indians as well as shipwrecks that have happened in the area.
The Military Penitentiary of Ushuaia
Argentina built a penitentiary for criminals and political prisoners in the beginning of the 20th century. At that time the city of Ushuaia was just a desolate outpost very far from civilization. The prison housed 600 prisoners who spent their time gathering wood used to build the town of Ushuaia and doing other harsh labor tasks. It finally closed in 1947, but visiting the old grounds is a somewhat popular activity for tourists.
The Train at the End of the World
This reproduction of the original prisoners train departs from a station 4 miles west of Ushuaia and runs through forests and isolated valleys. The train was originally used to transport firewood to the city by the inmates. The trip takes about 2 hours.
Ushuaia Hotels
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