STRAIT OF MAGELLAN - ESTRECHO DE MAGALLANES

This inter-oceanic strait stretches from east to west for 330 nautical miles, or about 610 km, with a width that varies between 3 and 40 km. At the very south of the South American continent, it separates it from the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, Tierra del Fuego, Tierra del Fuego. The strait was named in honour of the famous Portuguese navigator who was the first European to discover it in 1520, and Chile took possession of it in 1843 and still retains sovereignty today. The Strait of Magellan stands out for its strategic position due to its use as a maritime route between the two oceans. Just behind Cape Horn (Drake's Passage), it was the second most important route to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans before the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, which changed the face of maritime traffic. Navigation within the Strait has always been feared because of some narrow passages, strong and changing currents, and a very hostile and unpredictable climate.

There are two ways to reach Tierra del Fuego from the mainland by sea: the boat crossing from Punta Arenas to Porvenir, or the crossing between Punta Delgada (on the road to Río Gallegos in Argentina) and Bahía Azul, before continuing to Cerro Sombrero. At this point, the strait is narrow and can be crossed in about 20 minutes. The crossing is not regular and subject to capricious weather conditions.