Río Seco, Industrial settlement 14 kilometers north of Punta Arenas, Chile.
Río Seco is a small settlement located about 14 kilometers north of Punta Arenas with industrial and port-related activities in this southern region. The village sits between the sea and surrounding plains, with the Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport located just nearby.
The settlement was founded in 1906 following the construction of the region's first refrigeration plant and was formally established by presidential decree. These facilities marked the beginning of the fishing processing industry that shaped economic development in southern Patagonia.
The Natural History Museum displays over 400 animal specimens, marine invertebrates, plants, and fungi housed in former refrigeration buildings. The collection tells the story of this region's wildlife and ecological character.
The settlement is easily accessible from Punta Arenas and provides access to the airport and museum grounds. Visitors should prepare for cold winds and changing weather conditions that are typical of this southern region.
In 1916, the ship Yelcho arrived at this port with 22 survivors from Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated Endurance expedition. This dramatic rescue event connects the small settlement to one of polar exploration's most legendary stories.
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