|
The small island of
Isla Navarino is situated on the southern side of the Beagle Channel, to
the south of the main island that forms Tierra del Fuego. Despite it's
small size of 100km by 40km it is a
superb subantarctic wilderness with mountains which rise to over 1000m.
Because the latitude, the bush line here is very low, with only
true forest in very sheltered areas. Its isolation from the rest of the
South American continent has allowed subtle changes to develop in the
evolution of the native animals. The island is exposed to the full force
of the southern ocean and snow regularly falls down to sea level even in
summer. This island has the most southerly trekking in the world and
apart from the port town of Puerto Williams is basically uninhabited.
Photographs from one visit.
In February 2008 we spent a week trekking the Dientes Circuit and
visiting Lago Windhorn on Isla Navarino. We crossed by the Beagle
Channel by small boat in a howling gale to arrive at Puerto Navarino
before travelling to Puerto Williams. This is the start and finish point
of the Dientes Circuit. We found no maps at a suitable scale for
trekking, through the Chilean Authorities produce a detailed and
essential route guide. There are no huts on this route, except for a
rough shelter on the side trip to Lago Windhorn. As the photos show,
heavy summer snow fall is not unusual.
After returning to Puerto Williams, we travelled by Cargo Boat to Punta
Arenas a trip of some 36 hours along the Beagle Channel through the
mighty Darwin Range, where we were treated to spectacular views of sea
level glaciers. |