Historical Facts

Tierra del Fuego and the Beagle Channel

Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego is located in the southernmost region of America and it is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan. Its coasts are next to the Atlantic Ocean in the east, Pacific Ocean in the west and to the Beagle Channel to the south. This gigantic island is shared by Chile and Argentina

An expedition commanded by Ferdinand Magellan, discovered Tierra del Fuego back in August 21^st, 1520; and it was named after the several fires the sailors saw from their ships. The fire was the only mean the aborigines had to protect themselves from the hostile environment they lived in.

During that year's November, Magellan and his fellowmen sailed into what today is called Magellan Strait in the exploration mission of the northern coast of the island. The journey lasted 19 days.

In the XVI century, England's rivalry towards Spain was in its climax. Furthermore, the English crown supported and encouraged corsairs to attack the Spanish Empire and its colonies.

In 1578, Francis Drake sailed through the Strait of Magellan's waters to finally reach Valparai­so and attack the city. Corsairs of England and Holland sailed constantly through this strait.

Anyway, it wasn't until the beginning of the XVII century, that it was discovered that Tierra del Fuego was an island. Francisco de Hoces was the first one to notice this fact, which was corroborated by Cornelius Schouten and Isaac Le Maire.

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Key Facts

• “I have never seen a place so isolated from the rest of the world”, Charles Darwin” quoted during his journey in 1833.
• Traces of the biggest dinosaurs ever found were in Patagonia.
• The first aborigines traced to 12000 years ago.
• Magellan discovers Patagonia in 1520, and is marked on maps for the first time.
• Francis Drake navigated this area in 1578.
• Butch Cassidy fled to Patagonia in search for safety and gold.
• Julio Popper made the first gold coins in the area.
• Orelie-Antoine de Tounens proclaimed himself King of Patagonia, designed the flag and wrote the Constitution in 1860.
• In Shakespeare’s novels there is a high degree of similarities between his giant Caliban and the Pathagon giant described by Pigafetta.
• Fitz Roy set about to complete studies of the Patagonia in 1832, accompanied by Charles Darwin (“The Origin of the Species”), member of the crew.
• Jules Verne converted a Pathagon into the main character of “The Sons of Capitan Grant”.
• Antoine de Saint Exuperie flew between cities of the Patagonia in the 1930’s.