Punta Arenas, Chile

Geography: Punta Arenas is the southernmost city on Earth, overlooking the Straits of Magellan and situated astride one of the world's historic trade routes. Punta Arenas is located in Chile, which is in southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru.

Currency: Chilean Peso

National Symbol: Huemul (mountain deer) and the Andean condor
National Anthem: "Himno Nacional de Chile"

Language:  Spanish

Area Comparison: Chile is slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

Distance from Pittsburgh:  10,455km or  6,496miles

Terrain: Chile is mostly low coastal mountains with a fertile central valley and the rugged Andes in east


Highest Point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m

Weather You Should Expect: The climate is 

temperate with a desert in the north. In addition, there is a Mediterranean climate in the central region where as it is cool and damp in the south. 

What You Must See: The best spot to gain an introduction to Punta Arenas is the Cerro La Cruz promontory, which provides breathtaking views of the city's orderly streets, colorful tin roofs, and the strait beyond. Among the city's most interesting attractions are the Museo Salesiano de Mayonino Borgatello, started by an order of Italian missionaries, and the Centro Cultural Braun-Menendèz, housed in the mansion of one of the city's most prosperous families. The museum provides visitors with an extraordinary and eclectic introduction to virtually every aspect of the region. Furnished with fine European antiques, Italian marble floors, and grand ceiling frescos, this grand mansion gives a good indication of the economic stature of Punto Arenas before the Panama Canal was completed.


Historical Fact: Prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, the Inca ruled northern Chile while the indigenous Mapuche inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818.

Science Fact: Chile experiences significant volcanic activity due to the more than three dozen active volacanoes situated within the Andes Mountains. Lascar (elev. 5,592 m), which last erupted in 2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes and Llaima (elev. 3,125 m) in central Chile, which last erupted in 2009, is another of the country's most active.

Interesting Fact: Chile is in a strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans because of the Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, and Drake Passage

Fun Fact:  Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions and the crater lake of Ojos del Salado is the world's highest lake (at 6,390m)!

Everything You Need to Know about the Flag:

The flag has two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band. The square bears a white five-pointed star in the center representing a guide to progress and honor. In the flag, blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red represents the blood spilled to achieve independence. Did you know that the design was influenced by the US flag?