BLOG 23 Punta Arenas & Surroundings / Punta Arenas & Surroundings

After almost 7000 km drive with our brave Dodge RAM, we reach the coast of the Strait of Magellan and can take a first look over to Tierra del Fuego. It is strange to see so many fishing vessels pulled out of the water onto land, whether this is due to the season or a general crisis, we cannot find out. Some shipwrecks on the coast testify to the danger of this waterway, although the particularly critical passages are further west. All the more we admire the courage and daring of Fernando de Magellanes and his men to sail into unknown, treacherous waters with such nutshells as the 'Victoria' (28 meters long, 7.5 meters wide). He departed from Spain in 1519 with five ships and reached the Strait of Magellan in 1520, the long-sought passage to the Pacific. The Victoria returned as the only ship of the fleet in 1522 via the Cape of Good Hope to Europe - without Magellan, who was killed in a battle with native warriors in the Philippines. 250 men had started and only 18 men returned with the Victoria. Others had already mutinied on the Atlantic coast of South America and turned back, and others were later captured by the Portuguese along the way, so that only about 90 men returned to Europe alive in total. In addition to the 'Nao Victoria' (a 1:1 replica), a replica of the HMS Beagle can also be visited, on which, among others, the young Darwin conducted his expeditions to Tierra del Fuego. In the city of Punta Arenas - the southernmost city on the American continent - some magnificent buildings still testify to the former wealth of some families, such as Braun and Menendes. The basis of their wealth was trade and sheep breeding. With the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, the economic decline began after a short heyday of only about 50 years. After nearly 7000 kms with our solid Dodge RAM we are reaching the coast of the Strait of Magellan and have a first view of Tierra del Fuego. So many Fishing vessels are stored outside the water at the coast – looks pretty strange. We could not find out whether this is caused just seasonally or the result of a general crisis. Some wrecked ships prove the dangerousness of this waterway, even though the narrowest part is further west. Even more we have to admire courage and daring of Fernando de Magellanes and his crews to start to this cruise in unknown and dangerous seas with such small vessels. “Victoria” – the flagship is only 28 Meters long and has a width of 7,5 Meters. They started from Spain in 1519, reached the Strait in 1520, and returned via Cape of Good Hope to Europe in 1522 – without Magellan, who was killed in a fight with aborigines at the Philippines. 250 sailors had started but only 18 returned with the Victoria. Some others already had mutinied on the Atlantic coast of South America and had returned. A few others were captured by the Portuguese later. In total only about 90 seamen returned to Europe alive. Next to the “Nao Victoria” you can see the HMS Beagle in the Naval Museum. The young Charles Darwin was on board of this vessel for one of his journey to Tierra del Fuego. Punta Arenas – the southernmost city on continental America presents some gorgeous buildings from the 19th century. They were built by some super-rich families, like the Brauns and the Menendes’. They had made their money as traders and by giant sheep farming. Opening of the Panama Canal started the economic decline after the short period of flowering of about 50 years only.