Tierra del Fuego, Southern archipelago in Magallanes region, Chile
The archipelago spans 73,746 square kilometers divided between Chile and Argentina, with the main island Isla Grande covering 48,100 square kilometers.
Ferdinand Magellan documented the region in 1520 after observing numerous fires maintained by indigenous populations along the coastline.
The Yaghan people inhabited the region for thousands of years, developing methods to survive in the cold climate through hunting and gathering.
The climate includes cool summers around 10°C and winters near 0°C, with annual precipitation reaching 3,000 millimeters across the region.
The Strait of Magellan separates the archipelago from mainland South America, creating a natural waterway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Wind and waves shape a landscape here where passages between islands are often easier to cross than the rugged land itself.
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