Why is patagonia called the end of the world

Patagonia, the very name conjures up images of remoteness, of majestic mountains and of great ice fields. Surrounded by three oceans it gives the region an impression of being perched on the edge of the world. In , the priest Alberto de Agostini who gives his name to a national park in Chile made first explorations in the region and went on to show it to the world in his excellent expositions and publications.

Since then, many scientists and climbers have carried out expeditions. It was declared a national park in , and in the mountaineer John Gardner, with two park rangers, circled the massif of Paine, giving rise to the most famous trekking circuit in Chile - The Torres del Paine The Towers of Paine. The square-mile park features glaciers, lakes rivers, and is populated with exotic plants and animals, such as the puma and guanaco.

Torres del Paine is also known for its three Torres Towers which give the park its name. These massive granite towers—which reach 10, ft in height—were formed by the forces of glacial ice. A stay in the park will allow for trekking to the three Torres, as well as horseback riding, sailing, kayaking, climbing and fishing. More than years have passed since Ferdinand Magellan sailed his fleet into the straight that now bears his name.

The magnificence of these islands is as captivating as their rich history. Nine countries have research stations on the Antarctic Peninsula and its outlying islands. Geologically, the Antarctic Peninsula is closely linked with southernmost continental Chile.

South America and Antarctica were neighbors on the ancient continent of Gondwanaland until some 27 million years ago, when the formation of the Drake Passage definitively separated the two continents.

Antarctic plant fossils from the Pilocene indicate the presence of a temperate ecosystem similar to Patagonia. Only here will the experienced traveler and those with the spirit of exploration have the privilege of experiencing first-hand what has been described as the coldest, driest and windiest place on earth. It is worth remembering that in a temperature of minus This has proved to be the lowest temperature so far recorded anywhere in the world. Flowing from the center of the continent to its edges, the ice forms huge shelves, which extend for miles into the surrounding ocean.

The glaciers can be admired up close and the scene is unforgettable for those witnessing the huge blocks of ice breaking off and crashing into the lake with a thundering sound, breaking the unnatural and eerie silence.

There are beautiful icebergs, which float on the lagoon, and it is possible to sail among these floating ice castles that reveal only a tenth of their actual size. The very brave may wish to approach them in small boats and have a glass of whisky with cubes of thousand-year-old ice, while admiring their various shapes and the unforgettable translucency of their colors.

Antarctica is the only place on Earth where there are more penguins than people.