Punta Arenas: On the route of Ferdinand Magellan
Punta Arenas: On the route of Ferdinand Magellan
Punta Arenas overlooks the Magellanstrasse on the Ferdinand Magellan route and is the home of the most famous ships in the history of shipping
The extensive city of Punta Arenas, which lies on the historic Ferdinand Magellan route, is not easy to define. It is possible that the city itself is confused about its identity. Once a criminal colony, today it is partly robbery, partly modern metropolis, partly Maritime's open -air museum.
The location of the city with a view to the rough and inhospitable Magellanstrasse - the most important natural passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific - makes it indispensable for Chile's Seehandel and offers access to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Alt = “Ferdinand-Magellan-Route-Punta Arenas”> Punta Arenas overlooks the Magellanstrasse (Image: © Ekaterina Pokrovsky | Dreamstime)
whafers, antarctic researchers and sheep breeders were once the backbone of the city, but today glittering shopping centers and casinos fill the suburbs and the galvanized sheet metal roofs are replaced by hotels and restaurants that serve the growing cosmopolitan population.
Today, cruise passengers, hikers and backpackers have replaced the whaling, seafarers and discoverers on their way to Tierra del Fuego.
Ferdinand-Magellan-Route
Magellanstrasse is named after Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who organized the Spanish expedition to East Indies from 1519 to 1522, which led to the first round round. Magellan did not survive the entire trip, but left a legendary heritage: the Ferdinand Magellan route.
his name is scattered around the world and adorns countless statues, monuments, water, islands, polar regions, astronomical observations and even a penguin breed. Punta Arenas himself was called Magallanes.
alt = "Magellan penguins in Punta Arenas"> The Magellan penguin is named after the discoverer
The Spanish expedition sailed in 1519 from Seville, Spain, under the command of Magellan in search of a sea route from America to East Asia via the Pacific Ocean.
as a Magellan from the stormy passage of the sea sailed into the Pacific Ocean, he called her Mar Pacifico, which means "peaceful lake" in both Portuguese and Spanish.
Five ships with 270 men left Seville under Magellan, but the circulation was completed by only one ship, the Nao Victoria, at that time under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano and the surviving crew of only 18 men. Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines.
The survivors arrived in Spain in 1522, three years after they were sailed along today's Ferdinand Magellan route.
alt = “Ferdinand-Magellan-Route-Map”> The Ferdinand Magellan route lasted three years from 1519 to 1522
Museo Nao Victoria
Today Punta Arenas is littered with monuments of the epic expedition and the Ferdinand Magellan route. By far the best is the Museo Nao Victoria. The privately owned museum in 2011 houses a faithful replica of the first ship, which completed the circulation and cited the so-called Ferdinand Magellan route.
As one of the most famous ships in the history of shipping, the Nao Victoria played a role in the discovery and naming of Patagonia, Cape Virgenes, Magellanstrasse, Tierra del Fuego and the Pacific Ocean.
Alt = “Punta Arenas - Nao Victoria”> A faithful replica of the Nao Victoria with a length of 27 m and a width of 7 m (picture: © Dmitry Chulov | Dreamstime)
The museum also houses the James Caird rescue boat of the Endurance, which is adapted by Harry Mcnish and while Sir Ernest Shackleton's failed imperial transantarctic expedition from 1916 sailed from Elephant Island to South Georgia.
The performance, which is considered the most impressive of all global navigations, has been entered into history and is told in Shackleton's personal report South: The Endurance Expedition Brillant.
alt = “Ferdinand-Magellan-Route-James Caird”> The lifeboat James Caird The Endurance sailed from Elephant Island to South Georgia
There are huge collections of historical and ancient sailing instruments, documents and weapons, but maybe the crowning exhibition will be the replica of the HMS Beagle that is currently under construction.
The British Navy ship was converted into an exploration ship and commanded by captain Fitzroy. The young Charles Darwin was on board. Darwin started developing his theory of evolution on this ship and visited Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and of course the Galápagos Islands.
Punta Arenas: The essentials
Was: Visit to Punta Arenas, Chile.
Where: We stayed in a simple, friendly and cozy Hostal Patagonia. The hostel is central and only a few minutes' walk from the bus stop, shops, restaurants and the beach promenade.
When: This part of the world is frugal with its good weather, so do not visit it in South American winter (June to September). The best time to travel is between November and April, but be warned: The weather in Patagonia is moody all year round and can change in no time at all, be prepared for all eventualities.
like: The museum is 7.5 km north of Punta Arenas, on Route Y-565 to Rio Seco. There are public buses that regularly drive from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Punta Arenas city center towards Rio Seca. Just tell the driver to go to the museum. Alternatively, taxis are a faster and simpler option, but more expensive.
Punta Arenas is well connected to the rest of Chile with the plane. We recommend flying from Santiago to Punta Arenas with LAN. It is best to book tickets via skyscanner.net. There are minibuses and taxis available at the airport, which you bring to the city or your hotel.
by Punta Arenas it is a three -hour bus trip north to Puerto Natales and the Torres del Paine National Park. Buses run regularly all day and cost around 5,000 CLP (£ 5/8).
There are several bus companies to choose from. We used the Fernández and Bus Sur bus and can recommend it. There are bus connections to other parts of Chiles and to destinations in Argentina such as Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego and El Calefate to the Perito-Moreno-Glacier.
Lonely Planet Chile and the Easter Island contains a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights as well as to choose fewer roads.
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