Tierra del Fuego - Land of Fire

Southernmost Point in South America Is Near Ushuaia, Argentina

Cruises to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, or to the Chilean fjords often stopover in Ushuaia, Argentina for the day. Although exploring the touristy town can be interesting, I would recommend a day trip to nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park.

The park features pristine mountain scenery, peat bogs, beaver dams, and diverse wildlife. When there, the narrated ride on the "Train at the End of the World" provides a good look at what life was like for the prisoners who were kept at El Presidio prison in Ushuaia in the early 1900's. They cut down thousands of trees for firewood and shelter, and the stumps still litter the landscape.

Tierra del Fuego National Park also has the end point of the Panamerican Highway (Route 3), which starts way north in Alaska, about 11000 miles away! Another interesting point in the park is the view of Beagle Channel (also known as Canal Beagle), which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the world's southernmost post office at Puerto Guarani.