Tierra del Fuego 30482 225527559 2008-07-14T04:07:37Z 24.254.232.250 /* External links */ {{dablink|This article is about the group of islands called "Tierra del Fuego". For other meanings, see [[Tierra del Fuego (disambiguation)]].}} [[Image:Chile.estrechodemagallanes.png|thumb|300px|Tierra del Fuego]] '''Tierra del Fuego''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "'''Land of Fire'''", in English {{pronEng|tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ]}}; Spanish {{IPA2|ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo}}) is an [[archipelago]] {{convert|73753|km2|sqmi|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} separated from the southernmost tip of the [[South America]]n mainland by the [[Strait of Magellan]]. The southern point of the archipelago forms [[Cape Horn]]. == Geography == [[Image:UshuaiaViewFromPPLF2.jpg|125px|thumb|left|The city of [[Ushuaia]]]] [[Image:NASA Tierra del Fuego image.jpg|thumb|A true-colour image of Tierra del Fuego captured by NASA's Terra satellite on March 28, 2003.]] [[Image:Puerto Williams1.JPG|thumb|The city of [[Puerto Williams]]]] [[Image:NavarinoFromTDFNP3.jpg|thumb|Hoste Island, Chile]] [[Image:cerro sombrero chile.jpg|thumb|right|Cerro Sombrero Village, Chile. It was founded to serve as a petroleum campsite]] The [[archipelago]] consists of a main [[island]] ([[Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego]], often simply called Tierra del Fuego or Isla Grande) with an area of {{convert|48100|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, and a group of smaller islands. Half of this island, and the islands west and south of it, are part of the [[Magallanes y Antártica Chilena Region]], the capital and chief town of which is [[Punta Arenas, Chile|Punta Arenas]], situated on the mainland across the strait. The biggest [[Chile]]an towns are [[Porvenir, Chile|Porvenir]], capital of the Chilean [[Tierra del Fuego Province, Chile|Province of Tierra del Fuego]], on the main island, and [[Puerto Williams]], on [[Isla Navarino|Navarino Island]], being the capital of the [[Antártica Chilena Province]]. [[Puerto Toro]] lies a few kilometers south of Puerto Williams and is the [[Southernmost settlements|southernmost town]] in the world. The eastern part of the archipelago belongs to [[Argentina]], being part of the [[Tierra del Fuego, Antarctic Territory and South Atlantic Islands Province(Argentina)|Tierra del Fuego, Antarctic Territory and South Atlantic Islands Province]]; its capital is [[Ushuaia]], the biggest city of the archipelago, and the other important city in the region is [[Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego|Río Grande]], over the Atlantic coast. The [[Cordillera Darwin|Darwin Range]] ends in the Mount Bove; this range contains many glaciers that even touch the ocean. ==History== Its name comes from [[Ferdinand Magellan]] who was born in Portugal, and was the first European to pass it in [[1520]]. He believed he was seeing the many fires (''fuego'' in Spanish) of the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Amerindians]], which were visible from the sea and that the "Indians" were waiting in the forests to ambush his armada. These were fires lit by the [[Yaghan|Yamana]] Indians who lived in the southern part of the island, to ward off the low temperatures in the area. Four native [[Fuegian]]s, including "[[Jemmy Button]]" (Orundellico), were brought from Tierra del Fuego by [[Robert Fitzroy]] on his first voyage with the ''[[HMS Beagle|Beagle]]'' in [[1830]]. They were taken to meet the King and Queen in [[London]] and were to an extent celebrities. The surviving three returned to Tierra del Fuego with the ''Beagle'' with [[Charles Darwin]], who made extensive notes about his visit to the islands. In [[1881]] it was divided between [[Argentina]] and [[Chile]]; previously it was claimed by both countries in its entirety. == Climate == The climate in this region is very inhospitable. It is a subpolar [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfc'') with short, cool summers and long, wet, moderate winters: the northeast is characterized by strong winds and little precipitation, in the south and west it is very windy, foggy, and wet for most of the year and there are very few days without rain, slush, hail or snow. The permanent [[snow-line]] begins at 700 m (2300 ft) above sea level. [[Isla de los Estados]], {{convert|230|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} east of [[Ushuaia]], receives {{convert|1400|mm|in|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} of rain. Rainfall is heavier in the west, {{convert|3000|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} a year. Temperatures are steady throughout the year: in [[Ushuaia]] (the southernmost city in the world) they hardly surpass {{convert|9|°C|°F|sigfig=2}} in summers and average {{convert|0|°C|°F|sigfig=2}} in winters. Snowfall can occur in summer. The cold and wet summers help preserve the ancient [[glaciers]]. The southernmost islands possess subantarctic climate typical of tundra that makes the growth of trees impossible. Some areas in the interior that have polar climate. Regions in the world with similar climates to southern Tierra del Fuego are: [[Aleutian islands]], [[Iceland]], [[Alaska Peninsula]] and [[Faroe Islands]]. == Flora == [[Image:Drimys winteri.jpg|200px|thumb|left|''[[Drimys winteri]]'' flowers]] [[Image:Nothofagus antarctica D.jpg|200px|thumb|right|''[[Nothofagus antarctica]]'']] [[Image:Nothofagus pumilio.jpg|200px|thumb|left|''[[Nothofagus pumilio]]'']] [[Image:Nothofagus betuloides.jpg|200px|thumb|right|''[[Nothofagus betuloides]]'']] Only 30% of the islands have [[forest]]s which are classified as [[Magellanic subpolar forests|Magellanic subpolar]]; the northeast is made up by steppe and cool semidesert. There are six species of [[trees]] found in Tierra del Fuego: Canelo or Winter's Bark (''[[Drimys winteri]]''), ''[[Maytenus magellanica]]'', ''[[Pilgerodendron uviferum]]'' the southernmost conifer in the world , and three kinds of [[Nothofagus|Southern Beech]]; ''[[Nothofagus antarctica]]'', ''[[Nothofagus pumilio]]'' and the evergreen ''[[Nothofagus betuloides]]''. Very delicious fruits grow in open spaces in these forests, this is the case of [[beach strawberry]] (Fragaria chiloensis var. chiloensis forma chiloensis) and [[calafate]] (berberis buxifolia), which were and are collected respectively by Indians and countrymen<ref>Martínez Crovetto, Raúl. 1968. Estudios Etnobotánicos. Nombres de plantas y su utilidad según los indios Onas de Tierra del Fuego. Revista de la Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria de la Universidad del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina</ref>. These forests are unique in the world for having developed in a climate with such cold summers (around {{convert|18|°C|°F|sigfig=2}}). Tree cover extends very close to the southernmost tip of [[South America]]. Winds are so strong that trees in wind-exposed areas grow twisted by the force of winds, and people call the trees "flag-trees" for the shape that they need to take in the fight with the wind. Tree vegetation extends as far south as the [[Isla de los Estados]], Navarino Island and the north of [[Hoste (island)|Hoste Island]]. At altitudes above {{convert|500|m|ft|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}, dwarf nothofagus communities are found. Going further south, [[Wollaston Islands]] and the south of Hoste Island are covered by [[tundra|subantarctic tundra]]. Forests from Tierra del Fuego have expanded beyond local importance, they have been a source of trees that have been planted abroad in places with practically the same climate but which were originally devoid of trees like [[Faroe Islands]] and nearby archipelagos. Most of species were gathered from the coldest places in Tierra del Fuego, sites mainly with tundra borders. This effort resulted in positive changes, as the heavy winds and cool summers in the Faroe Islands did not allow the growth of trees from other regions in the world. The imported trees are used ornamentally, as curtains against wind and for fighting erosion caused by storms and grazing in the Faroe Islands.<ref> Højgaard, A., J. Jóhansen, and S. Ødum (eds) 1989. A century of tree planting in the Faroe Islands. Føroya Frodskaparfelag, Torshavn.</ref> == Fauna == [[Image:IslaLosLobos.jpg|thumb|thumb|[[Sea lion]]s at the Beagle Channel near Ushuaia]] Among the most notable animals in the archipelago that are found: [[Austral Parakeet|parakeets]], [[seagulls]], [[guanacos]], [[foxes]], [[kingfishers]], [[condors]], [[owls]], and [[Green-backed Firecrown|firecrown hummingbirds]]. North [[American beaver]], introduced in the 1940s, have proliferated and caused considerable damage to the island's forests.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news | last=Strieker | first=Gary | title=Argentina eager to rid island of beavers | publisher=Cable News Network | url=http://edition.cnn.com/NATURE/9907/09/argentina.beaver/ | date=1999-07-09 | accessdate=2007-06-30 }}</ref> === Salmoninae === Like mainland Chile and Argentina to the North, the archipelago boasts some of the finest trout fishing in the world. Sea Run Brown Trout often exceed {{convert|9|kg|lb|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}, particularly in rivers such as the Rio Grande and San Pablo and in the [[Lago Fagnano]]. Much of this water is private, catch and release and fly fishing only. == Economy == The main industries are [[Petroleum|oil]], [[natural gas]], [[domestic sheep|sheep]] [[agriculture|farming]] and [[ecotourism]]. On the Argentine side there are several [[Electronic company|electronic companies]] established. Tierra del Fuego is also home to the [[Microbrewery|small brewing]] company Cervecería Fueguina, which produces three beers under the Beagle brand name.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/cerveceria-beagle/5708/ |title=Cerveceria Beagle |publisher=www.ratebeer.com |accessdate=2008-05-30 |last= |first= }} </ref> ==See also== {{commonscat|Tierra del Fuego}} *[[Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)|Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands Province]] *[[Alberto de Agostini National Park]] *[[Tierra del Fuego National Park]] *[[Fuegians]] *[[Yaghan language]] (only one speaker left) **[[Mamihlapinatapai]] *[[Beagle conflict]] *[[The Voyage of the Beagle]] ==External links== *[http://www.tierradelfuego.org.ar/ Official website of Argentine Tierra del Fuego] *[http://www.patagoniaexpeditionrace.com/in/galeria_paisajes.htm Pictures of Patagonia] *[http://www.patagoniaexpeditionrace.com Patagonia Expedition Race] *[http://www.toplumpostasi.net/index.php/cat/9/col/85/art/1061/PageName/English Moribund Savages of Tierra del Fuego] ==Notes== {{reflist}} == References == *Bridges, Lucas. 1948. ''Uttermost Part of the Earth''. Reprint with Introduction by Gavin Young, Century Hutchinson, 1987. ISBN 0-7126-1493-1 *Keynes, Richard. 2002. ''Fossils, Finches and Fuegians: Charles Darwin's Adventures and Discoveries on the '''Beagle''', 1832-1836''. HarperCollins''Publishers'', London. Reprint: 2003. *Bollen, Patrick. 2000. "Tierra del Fuego" B/W Photobook. Lannoo Publishers, Tielt, Belgium. ISBN 90-209-4040-6 {{coor title dm|54|00|S|70|00|W|region:CL_type:isle}} [[Category:Tierra del Fuego| ]] [[Category:Islands of Argentina]] [[Category:Islands of Chile]] [[Category:Archipelagoes]] [[Category:Regions of South America]] [[Category:Geography of Magallanes and Chilean Antártica Region]] [[ar:أرض النار]] [[bn:তিয়ের্‌রা দেল ফুয়েগো]] [[bg:Огнена земя]] [[ca:Terra del Foc]] [[cs:Ohňová země]] [[cy:Tierra del Fuego]] [[da:Ildlandet]] [[de:Feuerland]] [[et:Tulemaa saared]] [[el:Γη του Πυρός]] [[es:Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego]] [[eo:Fuegio]] [[eu:Suaren Lurraldea]] [[fr:Terre de Feu]] [[gl:Illa Grande da Terra do Lume]] [[ko:티에라델푸에고 제도]] [[hr:Ognjena zemlja]] [[id:Tierra del Fuego]] [[it:Terra del Fuoco (arcipelago)]] [[he:ארץ האש]] [[ka:ცეცხლოვანი მიწა]] [[la:Terra Ignium]] [[lt:Ugnies Žemė]] [[hu:Tűzföld]] [[mk:Огнена Земја]] [[nl:Vuurland]] [[ja:ティエラ・デル・フエゴ]] [[no:Ildlandet]] [[pl:Ziemia Ognista (archipelag)]] [[pt:Terra do Fogo]] [[ru:Огненная Земля]] [[sk:Ohňová zem (súostrovie)]] [[sl:Ognjena dežela]] [[sr:Огњена Земља]] [[fi:Tulimaa]] [[sv:Eldslandet]] [[tr:Ateş Toprakları]] [[uk:Вогняна земля]] [[zh:火地群岛]]