Argentina – Off the beaten track in Tierra del Fuego (17 Photos)

When I was in Argentina last year, I chose to visit Ushuaia, which is considered the southernmost city on earth and the capital of Tierra del Fuego, also referred to as «the end of the world». Ushuaia might be the ending point of a journey from north to south of Argentina, but is also the starting point for many expeditions and cruises to the Antarctica. The Beagle Channel divides Chile and Argentina. The small settlement Puerto Williams on the Chilean side has a population of 3000, but even it is further south than Ushuaia, it has no city status. That still makes Ushuaia the southernmost city on earth. Doing a catamaran tour on the Beagle Channel offers spectacular scenery and wildlife. It's probably one of the most popular activities to do.

The photos are from an off-road adventure into parts of Tierra del Fuego National Park only accessible for 4WD. It did become a rough and bumpy drive through the forest, along some muddy lakeside, across streams and pristine scenery.

The many dead trees are the result of the construction of a beaver dam. Beavers were imported from Canada around 1946. The intention was as a potential of commercial fur trading. But in Tierra del Fuego, the temperature rarely drops below 0 degrees. For this reason, the beavers did not develop the long, thick coat that one must have for it to be used for jackets. Thus, they were not hunted and since they have no natural enemies in Tierra del Fuego, this led to overpopulation. This is the reason why the beavers break down the forrest.

Lago Fagnano, one of the larger lakes. It felt cool and windy and very deserted. We were the only ones here. This whole day of driving was through almost inaccessible places where you meet few others. You feel you have nature for yourself.