Punta Arenas Chile

"A voyage to this part of the world is an exhilarating experience, offering the traveler extraordinary sights of untamed natural beauty and the intrigue of the Antarctic. Located on the western side of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas is the capital of Chiles Magallanes Region and the bustling center of one of the worlds largest sheep farming areas. Its free-port facilities have promoted local commerce and encouraged immigration from central Chile. The best and largest port for thousands of miles, it provides a base for South Atlantic fishing boats and Antarctic research vessels.
The city center features impressive mansions dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in 1848, Punta Arenas was originally a military garrison and penal settlement. It also provided a convenient stopover for vessels en route to California during the Gold Rush. The local economy improved when the government authorized the purchase of 300 purebred sheep from the Falkland Islands; the success of this experiment encouraged further investment in sheep. By the turn of the last century, there were nearly two million in the territory.

Today, Punta Arenas numbers over 100,000 inhabitants. It has the look of a bustling city, with a fine cathedral and an attractive central square. It is also a major base for the Chilean navy. A statue of the explorer Magellan salutes present-day navigators.

Visitors to this southern-most part of the world should keep in mind that this is frontier land. The most attractive features are found in the rugged nature, where indigenous fauna and flora manage to exist in often harsh and unpredictable weather conditions. Many attractions in this vast region of Patagonia require fairly long drives from Punta Arenas. But recently, trips to the bottom of the world have become increasingly popular by travelers looking for more rustic adventures.

Punta Arenas Chile News

Methanex plans US$5mn wind farm in Magallanes - Chile (Business News Americas)
Canadian methanol producer Methanex (Nasdaq: MEOH) plans to develop a wind farm in southern Chile's Magallanes region at a cost of some US$5mn, a company spokesperson told BNamericas, elaborating on a report from El Mercurio.

Mercedes-Benz Partners with Pangaea - The Global Sustainability Expedition of Mike Horn (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
One of the most remarkable voyages of exploration ever undertaken -- a four-year global trans-navigation by sea and land launched by South African adventurer-explorer Mike Horn -- makes its U.S. debut today in Pangaea, a 115-foot state-of-the-art sailboat currently moored in New York City's Battery Park from September 4-6, 2008*.

Maritime connectivity tenders launched in Straits of Magellan - Chile (Business News Americas)
Tenders have been launched to improve existing port infrastructure in Punta Delgada and Bahía Azul on the Straits of Magellan in southern Chile's region XII, the department of port works reported on its website.

Chance to relive Shackleton voyage (Guardian Unlimited)
Travel: Search is on for someone to join a trek to the south pole with explorers' descendants

Infrastructure / Perspectives (Business News Americas)
While half the world battles to reduce the effects of record oil prices and the US subprime crisis on the economy in order to rein in inflation or even avoid a recession, others are taking action to boost growth.

Peugeot 404s On The March: Punta Arenas, Chile [Down On The Street Bonus Edition] (Jalopnik)
This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. It's French Car Week here at DOTSBE, and we've...

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