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| The Bay penetrating to the West. That’s the meaning of Ushuaia and there, amidst the Andes mountains and the Beagle channel, is this city, capital of Tierra del Fuego and the southernmost city of the planet that has not been forgotten in spite of being so far. Because Ushuaia is full of mysticism and magic. It was first inhabited by Yamana Indians who were nomad hunters and gatherers and who baptized this land. However, they were not the first ones to settle definitively in this land. |
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At the end of the XIX century, the project of turning Ushuaia into a penal colony in the south of the Republic of Argentina transformed this remote city in the residence of hundreds of prisoners who ensure the sovereignty of the Republic and began the construction of a city that has been alive until present. And very much alive! The picturesque city of Ushuaia, with more than 60,000 inhabitants, counts on one of the best gastronomical, hotel and tourism infrastructures of Argentina.
Undoubtedly one of the biggest attractions of Ushuaia is being at the end of the world, either looking at it or enjoying the museum and the end of the world railway located in this city. All this within an exceptional setting where sea and glaciers blend with mountains and forests, and where it’s possible to practice any kind of adventure tourism: trekking, horseback riding, mountain bike, sport fishing, as well as skiing under any modality. |
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Ushuaia is a fascinating city and visiting it is a real adventure. The spirit of the Yamana Indians and the former prisoners can be felt when you walk down the streets. A good choice is to take the Ushuaia Double Decker coach for a guided city tour. In this tour you’ll enjoy the beautiful sights of the city.
You don’t want to miss either a visit to the museums of the city. The End of the world museum and the halls of the Maritime museum located in the old jail of the city.
Built in 1903 as the private residence of Manuel Valdés, the End of the World Museum displays a collection of all kinds of species of birds, as well as artifacts and elements from missioner explorers and a comprehensive library containing documents on the area.
On the other hand, the former jail of Ushuaia is also astonishing. There is a complete visit to the jail, that in spite of having only 380 single-occupant cells, managed to house 800 inmates. Its pavilions, cells and cold stone walls, where it is believed that the famous tango singer Carlos Gardel was imprisoned, make up one of the darkest and gloomiest penitentiaries of the Argentine prison system. The Maritime museum operates in pavilion number 4 and it displays scale models of seagoing vessels of the first navigators-discoverers of the area.
A mandatory visit is to the Obelisk, located in the 12th of October Square, which signals the historical fist raising of the Argentine National Flag in Ushuaia. The building of the Provincial Legislature, declared as National Historical Monument and former residence of the Governor, is also worth a visit. The house of the Ramos family, built in 1920 is another emblematic building of the city. The house of the Bebán family was and is an ambitious building that hosts community events and it’s well worth a visit. Our Lady of Mercy church, built at the end of the XIX century and finally, the House of Government, are important historical places that you cannot miss while visiting the city.
The end of the world railway is another visit you can’t miss while being in Ushuaia. Its wagons, real pieces of art, travel from the municipal camping site, go along the edge of the Pipo river, pass by Tierra del Fuego National Park and go into the beautiful landscapes of mountains, cascades and rivers that can only be appreciated by this mean.
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A representative sample of the local flora and fauna, Tierra del Fuego National Park, is the best place within the area to practice trekking, horseback riding or mountain bike, especially during summer time. Set up in 1960 and with a surface area of 63,000 hectares, this park owns one of the most important samples of the Patagonian Andean forest and it is the only park that counts on sea shores bathed by the Beagle channel. The beautiful bays of Lapataia and Ensenada are located there, where the cauquenes and albatros domain the landscape..
The park can be traveled across through various trails:
Paseo Laguna Negra, which main characteristic is a dark-stained water lake.
Paseo Isla that goes along the shores of Lapataia and Ovando rivers.
Paseo Turbal tour, which through Lapataia bay, covers lenga forests and an old abandoned beaver dam.
Paseo al mirador (to the lookout), where you can enjoy panoramic views of Lapataia bay.
Paseo a la castorera (to the beaver dam), where you can see the pond system created by these animals.
During winter, Ushuaia can be enjoyed to the maximum. During this season you’ll be able to enjoy a complete snow infrastructure with runs inside and outside the city, dog sled rides, ice skating over frozen lakes and especially, skiing amidst glacier and lenga forest landscapes, which make up a unique setting to practice this sport.
The most important center of the area is Cerro Castor, only 195 meters above sea level with a summit of 1,057 meters. It has 19 runs with different levels of difficulties within an area of 20 kilometers. Nordic ski is the most outstanding modality, with circuits that go through lengas forests. Cerro Castor also counts on a skiing school and facilities for the practice of snowboard. |
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 Australis cruise ships travel across: |
• the glaciars
• islands
• Patagonian channels
From Punta Arenas to Ushuaia and from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas in an unforgettable journey. Discover it. For further information, click here: http://www.hotelesaustralis.com
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