Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region

Macizo and horns of Paine

The Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, also known simply as the Region of Magallanes, is one of the sixteen regions into which Chile is divided. It is located at the southern tip of the South American continent, in the southern part of Patagonia. Its capital and urban center with the largest population is Punta Arenas.

Located in Chilean Patagonia, bordered to the north by the Aysén Region, to the northeast by the Argentine province of Santa Cruz to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida and Islas del Atlántico Sur, to the south with the South Pole or with the Drake Passage —if it is the territories under effective sovereignty— and to the west with the Pacific Ocean.

Its population is 164,661 inhabitants in 2015, making it the second least populated region in the country (ahead of Aysén). It has an area of 132,297 km², making it the largest territorial area From Chile.

As of 2017, the region has its own schedule, which maintains the Chilean continental summer time (UTC-3) throughout the year. It is made up of four provinces: Chilean Antarctica, Magallanes, Tierra del Fuego, and Última Esperanza.

The Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region is made up of two zones. The continental zone has an area of 132,297 km² and almost the entire population lives there. This area is separated by the Drake Passage from the Chilean Antarctic Territory —the closest country geographically—, delimited by meridians 53º and 90º west longitude, the 60º S parallel and the South Pole, which is officially considered the southern limit of the country. With an area of 1,250,257.6 km², the Antarctic Territory is a claim made by the Chilean government since 1940 and is subordinated to the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty, being suspended indefinitely as are the claims of other signatory countries..

History

Administratively, the region has its origins in the former province of Magallanes, in force between 1928 and 1974. This province, in turn, originated from the territory of Magallanes, which reached its maximum extension, in 1878, limiting from de facto, to the north, with the Santa Cruz River and to the east with the Atlantic Ocean. After the boundary treaty of 1881 and the arbitration award of 1902, its final boundaries were established.

Government and administration

Political-administrative division

The region of Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, whose capital is the city of Punta Arenas, for purposes of government and internal administration, is divided into four provinces.

• Chilean Antarctic Provincewhose capital is Puerto Williams.
• Magellan Provincewhose capital is Punta Arenas.
• Tierra del Fuego Provincewhose capital is Porvenir.
• Last Hope Provincewhose capital is Puerto Natales.

While these three provinces are subdivided into 11 communes ―Antártica, Cabo de Hornos, Laguna Blanca, Punta Arenas, Río Verde, San Gregorio, Porvenir, Primavera, Timaukel, Natales and Torres del Paine―.

Province Capital Commune Chilean Antarctica Puerto Williams Antarctica Cape Horn Magellan Punta Arenas Laguna Blanca Punta Arenas Rio San Gregorio Land of Fire To come To come Spring Timaukel Last Hope Puerto Natales Natales Torres del Paine

Antarctica Cape Horn LagunaBlanca Punta Arenas Rio SanGregorio To come Spring Timaukel Natales Torresdel Paine

Authorities

The administration of the region's executive power lies in the Regional Government of Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctic, made up of the Governor of Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctic and by the Regional Council, in addition to the presence of the Presidential Delegate Regional Government of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica and both the Provincial Presidential Delegate of Última Esperanza, the Provincial Presidential Delegate of Tierra del Fuego and the Provincial Presidential Delegate of Chilean Antarctica, representatives of the central government of the country.

For the purposes of local administration, the provinces are divided into 11 communes ―Antártica, Cabo de Hornos, Laguna Blanca, Punta Arenas, Río Verde, San Gregorio, Porvenir, Primavera, Timaukel, Natales and Torres del Paine― in total governed by their respective municipality.

The legislative power is represented and divided territorially through the 15th constituency of the Chilean Senate, made up of two senators, and the 28th electoral district -made up of three deputies-, which represent the citizens of the region.

Geography

The region contains mountain peaks and glaciers in the extreme north, including elements of the Patagonian ice sheet. Further south there are other mountain ranges such as Cerro Toro and numerous surface waters such as Seno Última Esperanza, Eberhard Fjord and Gray Lake. Protected areas include the Torres del Paine National Park and the Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument. In the latter, remains of the extinct ground sloth have been discovered, as well as prehistoric man dating from around 10,000 BC. c.

The topography can be divided into four regions: an outer archipelago region (Archipielagic Region) to the west and south, a mountainous region to the west and south (Cordillerana Region), a plains region (Plains Region Orientales) in the northeast plus a sub-Andean zone between the last two zones (Eastern Sub-Andean Region).

Climate

The region is characterized by low temperatures and strong winds throughout the year. The region has five different climate types, due to the diversity of altitudes and the width of the region. Due to its proximity to 60°S (an area characterized by low pressure systems and subpolar cyclones), frontal systems regularly pass through the region.

The westernmost islands have a cold, humid and rainy climate, being exposed to strong winds and low temperatures throughout the year.[10] Precipitation averages 3,500 mm per year, while the average annual temperature on these islands is 9 °C with a low thermal amplitude due to maritime influences and strong winds. Precipitation decreases and temperatures increase moving eastward. These islands are the wettest places in Chile, particularly Guarello Island, where 9,000 mm (350 in) can be recorded during the wettest years. Precipitation is high throughout the year, although fall tends to be the wettest season.

Economy

Cows in a meadow near Punta Arenas.

The region, despite its sparse population, is quite dynamic economically. It has presented in recent years^[when?] a diversification of economic activities as well as a consolidation of historical activities.

In 2018, the number of companies registered in the Magallanes region was 5,659. The Economic Complexity Index (ECI) in the same year was -0.5, while the economic activities with the highest Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index were Defense Activities (117.65), Coal Extraction and Agglomeration of Stone, Lignite and Peat (103.01) and Livestock Services, except Veterinary (96.81).

Certainly, the entire region has been oriented in its structure towards livestock activity, which has over 3 million head of sheep (more than 50% of the national total), as well as nearly 400,000 head of cattle. cattle, where both types represent an area of genetic isolation that gives coveted characteristics to derived products in the European and Asian markets. Equine, pig and poultry farming are less, although the potential of horses has been increasing. Livestock has prompted the establishment in recent years of numerous companies related to the textile area and the food industry, especially in the province of Tierra del Fuego.

Mining is one of the main economic resources in the region, especially oil, gas and coal. Oil was discovered in the region in 1945, and consolidated an entire infrastructure, mainly in the northern steppe region of the Magallanes province and in the north of Tierra del Fuego, whose installations gave rise to the formation of new towns such as Cerro Sombrero or Posesión. However, in recent years^[when?] ENAP Magallanes' regional production has declined, giving way to gas production only. On the other hand, in 2006 the project for the extraction and production of gas from Lake Mercedes, in the southern zone of Tierra del Fuego, was approved, which reinvigorates the energy character of the region. Likewise, around the mining activity, an immense industrial petrochemical pole has been created in the region in the area of Cabo Negro (30 km north of Punta Arenas), where large investments have been made and the largest world methanol. In the same area, coal extractive works have been reactivated in the Otway Sound, due to national demand. Limestone is mined on Guarello Island.

In the fishing sector, the region has a large export of shellfish, fish (austral hake, conger eel, etc.), standing out among crustaceans due to their culinary importance, the king crab and king crab, of which the region is the main national exporter.^{[citation required]}

The forestry sector has also been revitalized in recent years^[when?] and has been regulated quite efficiently, achieving a large export of Nothofagus timber.

Along with the previous productive activities, services and commerce —characterized by the presence in the free zone region— have supported regional tourism, this being one of the activities that has developed the most in recent years,^[when?] supported by the natural beauties of the area, with glaciers and ancient ice, Andean formations, extensive lenga and coigue forests, large lakes and navigable rivers, plains, as well as a cosmopolitan history, open to the world, distant from the rest of the country, but with a unique sense of belonging.^{[citation required]} With this, new development spaces in the region, with new infrastructure and respect for the environment. For this reason, the region has the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, the southernmost in the world.

Cordillera Paine.

The following tourist destinations in the region stand out: the town of Puerto Edén, the Patagonian channels, the Southern Ice Fields, the Torres del Paine National Park, the Serrano and Balmaceda snowdrifts, Fort Bulnes, Puerto Williams, the the Mountains, the Río Verde region, the cattle ranches, the city of Puerto Natales, Cape Froward (the southernmost point of continental America), the Francisco Coloane Marine Park with whale watching, the penguin colonies of Otway Sound and Magdalena Island, the Punta Delgada, Punta Dungeness and San Isidro lighthouses. Fishing is also practiced in numerous rivers —Río San Juan, Río Tranquilo, Río Serrano, Río Paine, Río de las Chinas, Río Baguales, Río Vizcachas, Río Penitente, Río Rubens, Río Pérez, Río Pescado, Río San Juan, Río Grande, Marazzi River, Rasmussen River, Oro River, Verde River, O'Higgins River, Azopardo River, etc.—. The region also has numerous lakes: Lake Pingo, Lagoon Azul, Lagoon Amarga, Lake Grey, Lake Sarmiento, Lake Nordenskjöld, Lake Pehoe, Lake del Toro, Lake Porteño, Lagoon Verde, Lake Dickson, Lagoon Figueroa, Lagoon Sofía, Lagoon Diana, Balmaceda Lake, Aníbal Pinto Lake, Blanca Lagoon, Toro Lagoon, Los Cisnes Lagoon, Santa María Lagoon, Parrillar Lagoon, Lynch Lake, Chico Lake, Blanco Lake, Deseado Lake, Fagnano Lake, Mercedes Lake, Navarino Lake, Windhond Lake, Lake Lovenborg.

Just as important as the Torres del Paine National Park, the Fuegian channels, the Darwin mountain range, the Beagle Channel and the mythical Cape Horn are of global relevance.

Education

University of Magallanes

In the regional capital, Punta Arenas is the Central Campus of the University of Magallanes, which is the most important university in Chilean Patagonia.

The University of Magallanes is a public and traditional university in Chile. It was created in 1981 and is the successor to the Punta Arenas branch of the State Technical University, founded in 1961. It is the only university of the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region; It has around 4,000 students and also has offices in the other three largest population centers in the region, in Puerto Natales, Porvenir and Puerto Williams. It is one of the most extensive Patagonian universities in the area of research.

Aerial view of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Magellan.

Campus

• Punta Arenas
  • Central Campus of the University of Magellan (Avenida Bulnes #01855).
  • Patagonia Institute (Avenida Bulnes #01890).
  • Conservatory of Music (Avenida Bulnes #345).
  • Centro de Cultivos Marinos Bahía Laredo (Ruta 9 Norte km. 24).
  • UMAG Experimental Liceum (Angamos #17).
  • Centro Asistencial, Docente y de Investigación CADI UMAG (Sector posterior to Hospital Clínico Magallanes).
  • CAI International Antarctic Centre (Punta Arenosa, Avenida Costanera)

• Puerto Natales - Last Hope
  • University Campus UMAG Puerto Natales (Ruta 9 North km. 1.5 from Pto.Natales).

• Future - Tierra del Fuego
  • UMAG Porvenir University Centre (Manuel Señoret #739).

• Puerto Williams - Navarino Island
  • University Center UMAG Puerto Williams (Teniente Muñoz #396).
  • Parque enobotánico Omora (km. 2.5 West)
  • Centro de investigación Subantártico Cabo de Hornos

Demographics

Punta Arenas, capital of Chilean Patagonia, on the peninsula of Brunswick, where the American continent ends.

Puerto Natales in the province of Last Esperanza.

Puerto Williams, the southernmost city in the world, on Navarino Island.

Porvenir, capital of the Chilean portion of Tierra del Fuego.

Villa Las Estrellas, on King George Island, the main human settlement on the entire Antarctic continent.

The region's population is one of the lowest in Chile, although it must be taken into account that it was one of the last regions to be colonized and populated.

In the 1854 census, 158 settlers were counted, corresponding to the inhabitants of Punta Arenas. According to King, the native population in 1830 totaled approximately 2,200 (about 400 in western Patagonia and approximately 1,600 south of the narrow).

The 1875 census reported 1,144 inhabitants and in the 1895 census the population already reached 5,170 inhabitants, mostly concentrated in the city of Punta Arenas and its surroundings.

The installation of the cattle ranches attracted a large number of European immigrants (mainly Croatians, Spanish and British); Together with the Chileans from Chiloé, they greatly increased the population of the region.

In the 1907 census, the Territory of Magallanes had 17,330 inhabitants, distributed as follows:

• Cd. of Punta Arenas: 12 785 hab.
• Chilean Patagonia: 1094 hab.
• Pen. de Brunswick: 1062 hab.
• Tierra del Fuego: 1626.
• Beagle Channel: 184 Hab.
• Last Hope: 392 there.
• Baker River: 187 hectares.

This proportion has been maintained to this day, concentrating most of the regional population in the city of Punta Arenas, and in the provincial capitals: Puerto Natales, Porvenir and Puerto Williams.

In the last 50 years the population has maintained a moderate increase, as shown below, maintaining one of the lowest population densities in the country and being mostly urban, concentrated mainly in Punta Arenas.

Census

• 1952: 55 206 hab.
• 1960: 73 358 hectares.
• 1970: 89 443 hab.
• 1982: 131 914 hab.
• 1992: 143 198 hab.
• 2002: 150 826 hab.
• 2017: 166 533 hab.

The most populated communes (2017 census) are: Punta Arenas (131,592 inhabitants); Natales (21,477 inhabitants); Future (6,801 inhabitants); Cape Horn (2,063 inhabitants) and Torres del Paine (1,209 inhabitants).

Basic indicators (historical series)

The historical series of basic indicators of the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region is presented below:

Source: I.N.E. (Chile)

Culture

Literature

Few regional writers have stood out nationally and abroad. In addition to the fact that not all regional writers are born in the Magallanes Region, writers who have adopted the territory for the writing of their works are recognized.

Some of the most prominent writers are:

Regional emblems

According to Decree Law 2339, published on October 10, 1978, the official name of this region, Region XII, is "Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena". regional, published on February 5, 1997, provided in its article 1 that "the official name of the Region is "Región de Magallanes y Antártica Chilena". No element may be added to this denomination that alters it" and, furthermore, in article 2 that "the official identifying symbols of the Region are the Coat of Arms, the Flag, the cockade, the anthem, the tree, the flower and the animal that are mentioned and defined in this regulation”. Of these, the last three are the ñire, the calafate and the Patagonian ostrich.

Likewise, Resolution 42 established three regional anniversaries and five provincial anniversaries in its articles 9 and 10, respectively.