Punta Arenas, Chile

After a long set of flights, we arrived this afternoon in Punta Arenas, Chile!

Punta Arenas is in the southern end of Chile, on the Strait of Magellan. The Strait of Magellan is a natural channel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It runs in between mainland South America (where Punta Arenas is located) and Tierra del Fuego to the south. It has a very important role in global shipping and trade for hundreds of years! If ships had to go all the way around Tierra del Fuego to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific, they have to navigate the much more dangerous rough seas of the Drake Passage. The Straits of Magellan are calmer, making it safer for ships (and all of the trade goods they carry) to get from one side of the planet to the other. 

You can see South America at the top of the map, showing Punta Arenas on mainland Chile, with the Strait of Magellan separating Tierra del Fuego to the south. Below Tierra del Fuego is the Drake Passage, the tumultuous waters in between South America and the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula at the bottom of the map.

The Straits of Magellan are named for the explorer Ferdinand Magellan who led the first European expedition that mapped the area. (Of course, native South Americans were well aware that it existed long before Europeans showed up!) Ferdinand Magellan is celebrated in Punta Arenas. In fact, Punta Arenas is in the Chilean province called Magallanes, and there are statues, museums, and streets named after him and other naval explorers who visited the region. There is a statue of Magellan atop this monument in one of the parks. Below Magellan on the monument are native Patagonians. It is considered good luck to rub the foot of the Patagonian before crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica. (Well, technically it's good luck to kiss the foot, but Hannah decided to be more sanitary and rub it.)

Tonight, we ate an early dinner and are heading to bed. We have a lot of sleep to catch up on! Tomorrow, we begin sorting gear and getting ready for our journey down to Antarctica.