ANTARCTICA / SOUTH AMERICA  - DAY 15-16 - USHUAIA

Blogs: Day 1-2 Iguazu and Itapu | Day 3-4-5 Buenos Aires | Day 6-8 Falklands | Day 10-14 Antarctica | Day 15-16 Ushuaia | Day 17 Punta Arenas - Patagonia | Day 21-23 Santiago | Day 24 Valparaiso

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CAPE HORN

This screen shot of Google maps was taken as we passed Cape Horn.

It's surrounded by wild seas off the southern tip of South America where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet. There is a monument on the island which commemorates the lives of thousands of seafarers who perished attempting to sail around the cape. A secluded lighthouse manned by a lonely family and a tiny chapel are the only structures on the island.

The waters around Cape Horn are particularly hazardous, owing to strong winds, large waves, strong currents and icebergs. The need for boats and ships to round Cape Horn was greatly reduced by the opening of the Panama Canal in August 1914. Now rounding Cape Horn is more an honor and a right of passage and not a necessity as it was in the past.

USHUAIA - MOST SOUTHERN CITY IN THE WORLD

Ushuaia is a resort town in Argentina. It's located on the southernmost tip of South America, nicknamed the “End of the World.”

It is the Southern most city in the world! With about 80,000 residents it is a fair size city that started as a penal colony and prison originally. The prison was closed in the 60s and the town developed into a resort town as a launch base for Antarctic expeditions in the summer and a ski destination in winter.

As can be seen on the map this city is located on a large island which is split between Argentina and Chile. It is only just in Argentina.

The downtown area is really cute but feels more like an Alpine village than a South American city. Very touristy with loads of shopping and restaurants and gift shops.

In order to get people to move to this somewhat God forsaken part of the world, the Argentinean government offered tax free living and higher salaries.

Residents pay no income taxes at all and neither do corporations setting up in the city.

Neither does anyone in town (including tourists) pay sales tax which is regularly 21% VAT.

We took a tour to nearby "End of the World" a national park called "Terra Del Fuego" where the Pan America highway, which starts in Alaska, ends. The park has beautiful lakes and is on the main waterway Beagle Channel. Which was named after a British Ship called Beagle which was originally named after the Queen's dog.

And finally...

If you want to go on a "boots on the ground" Antarctica trip where you get to walk on the land, THIS is the type of ship you will go in.

Next to our ship it looked tiny and I can imagine crossing the 1000KM Drake Passage would not be a lot of fun in a small ship like this, as WE were rocking and rolling for a while.

Note the 6 dinghies with outboards on the back, that's how you get to shore. Also see how they are loading the luggage with a crane and the suitcases in a sack.

If we are not supposed to walk there then why is there a perfect beaten path???

Or, maybe the sign means no shoes with tread? Slippers or flip-flops only? Barefoot?