Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands Province

This province covers the eastern part of the main island and includes mountains, glaciers, forests and coastal plains between the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel. The landscape shifts from windswept grasslands in the north to forested valleys and snowy peaks in the south.

Ferdinand Magellan documented the region while passing through the strait named after him in 1520. European settlements formed here from the mid-1800s onward as the Argentine government established a penal colony and later trading posts.

The name comes from Magellan's observation of campfires along the coast and literally means Land of Fire. Today many residents call their home El Fin del Mundo, the End of the World, a phrase that appears everywhere in shops and cafés.

The two main cities Ushuaia and Rio Grande offer lodging, shops and starting points for trips into the surrounding areas. Weather changes quickly so layered clothing is advisable even in summer.

The provincial administration officially claims territories in Antarctica and on South Atlantic islands, expanding its area on paper enormously. These territorial claims are internationally disputed and not recognized by other nations.

Location: Argentina

Inception: 1990

Capital city: Ushuaia

Elevation above the sea: 144 m

Reference: TDF

Shares border with: Santa Cruz Province, Magellan and the Chilean Antarctic Region

Website: https://tierradelfuego.gob.ar

GPS coordinates: -54.36200,-67.63800

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:05