Its highest point is unofficially named Monte Shipton (2,580 m (8,465 ft)), inChile. NearbyMount Darwin was previously thought to be the tallestmountain on theisland, but is just less than a hundred metres shorter.[3] The northern parts of the island have oil deposits;Cerro Sombrero in Chile is the main extraction centre in the island.
On 17 December 1949,an earthquake occurred in the Chilean portion, near the Argentine border. Recorded as 7.8 on themoment magnitude scale, it was the most powerful ever recorded in the south of Argentina.[4]
Tierra del Fuego is bounded on the east by theSouth Atlantic, on the north by theMagellan Straits and on the south and west by a series offjords andchannels linked to the Pacific Ocean. One of the few prominent features of the northeast shore isSan Sebastián Bay. To the south the island is bounded by theBeagle Channel, south of which lie a series of islands included in Chilean territory. To the west the island has two major inlets,Inútil Bay andAlmirantazgo Fjord. The latter lies along theMagallanes–Fagnano Fault and is a continuation of theCami Lake depression in southern Tierra del Fuego.
The southwest part of the island, between the Almirantazgo Fjord and the Beagle Channel and extending west to end at Brecknock Peninsula on the Pacific Ocean, is mountainous with a heavily indented coastline, dominated by theCordillera Darwin. Most of this part of the island is included in theAlberto de Agostini National Park of Chile.
The earliest human settlement occurred more than 10,000 years ago, as people migrated from the mainland, perhaps under pressure from competitors. TheYaghan people were some of the earliest known humans settling inTierra del Fuego. Certain archeological sites at locations such asNavarino Island, within the islands of Tierra del Fuego, have yielded artifacts and evidence of their culture from the Megalithic era.
The name Tierra del Fuego derives from Portuguese explorerFerdinand Magellan, who was the first European to visit these lands in 1520, on his voyage to thePhilippines fromSpain. He believed he was seeing the many fires (fuego in Spanish) of the 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 theYamana Indians who live in the northern part of the island, to ward off the low temperatures in the area. Originally called the "Land of Smoke", it was later changed to the more exciting "Land of Fire".[a]
The British commanderRobert Fitzroy, on his first voyage aboardHMS Beagle in 1830, captured four native Fuegians after they stole a boat from his ship. The men includedOrundellico, later namedJemmy Button by his crew. Fitzroy taught them English and took them with him on his return to England, where he took them to Court to meet the King and Queen in London. They became early celebrities. The surviving three were returned to Tierra del Fuego on the second voyage ofBeagle, which included the naturalistCharles Darwin, who made extensive notes about his visit to the islands.
This was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the south ofArgentina. It was felt with grade VIII in theMercalli intensity scale, and affected the settlements and some others likePunta Arenas andRío Gallegos. Due to low population density, damage was limited.[4]
The region has asubpolar oceanic climate and a mildtundra climate (Köppen climate classificationCfc andET) with short, cool summers with a mean at around 10 °C (50 °F) and long, cool and wet winters with a mean at around 0 °C (32 °F). The northeast is characterized by strong winds and little precipitation, while in the south and west it is very windy, foggy, and wet most of the year, with precipitation levels averaging 3,000 millimetres (120 in) a year. The permanent snow line begins at 700 metres (2,300 ft). Places in the world with comparable climates are theAleutian Islands,Iceland,Kuril Islands,Campbell Island, theKerguelen Islands, theScottish Highlands, and coastal areas ofNorway.
In August 1995 the island was hit by an event of intense winds, cold and snowfall known as theWhite Earthquake. This caused the ferry service acrossPrimera Angostura to be suspended, as well as the international road toRío Gallegos to be closed.[7] InTimaukel alone the mayor reported that 150,000 sheep and 6,500 heads of cattle were threatened by the event.[8]
There are six species of tree 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 ofsouthern beech;Nothofagus antarctica,Nothofagus pumilio and the evergreenNothofagus betuloides. Edible fruits grow in open spaces in these forests, such asbeach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis var. chiloensis forma chiloensis) andcalafate (Berberis buxifolia), which have been collected by Indians and residents alike. These forests are unique in the world for having developed in a climate with such cold summers. 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 theIsla de los Estados,Navarino Island and the north ofHoste Island. At altitudes above, dwarfNothofagus communities are found. Going further south,Wollaston Islands and the south of Hoste Island are covered by subantarctic tundra.
The forests of Tierra del Fuego have been a source of trees that have been planted abroad in places with a similar climate but that were devoid of trees, such as the Faroe Islands and nearby archipelagos. Most species were gathered from the coldest places in Tierra del Fuego bordering the tundra. This resulted in positive changes, as the heavy winds and cool summers in the Faroe Islands had not formerly allowed the growth of trees from other regions in the world. In the Faroe Islands, the imported trees are used ornamentally, as curtains against wind, and for fighting erosion caused by storms and grazing.
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The main industries are oil, natural gas, sheep farming and ecotourism. On the Argentine side several electronics companies have been established. Ushuaia is home to the small brewing company Cervecería Fueguina, which produces three beers under the Beagle brand name.
^There is no direct evidence that the name Tierra del Fuego was given to the island by Magellan himself or his companions, nor by King Charles I of Spain. In its modern form, the name appeared on maps only in the middle of the 16th century.[5][6]
^The record highs and lows are based on the Secretaria de Mineria link for the period 1901–1990 while records beyond 1990 come from the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional link since it only covers from 1961–present. When these 2 sources are used together, the record highs and lows are from the period 1901–present.
^The record highs and lows are based on the Secretaria de Mineria link for the period 1941–1950 and from 1971–1990 while records beyond 1961 come from the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional link. When these 2 sources are used together, the record highs and lows are from the periods 1941–1950 and from 1961–present
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