Ushuaia means “bay that is open to the west” and is considered by many to be the southern most city in the world. The Argentines refer to it as FIN DEL MUNDO or End of the World. It is located on the north shore of the Beagle Channel, made famous by Charles Darwin’s voyage of the Beagle. Originally a Feugian Indian fishing settlement, Ushuaia became a British Missionary Society outpost in 1869. The Argentine Navy founded it as a township in 1884 to enforce its territorial claim over Tierra del Feugo and built an escape-proof prison there in 1902 that closed in 1947. Population is about 60,000 and by the 1980s had become the administrative capital of the province as well as a tourism center for southern South America and the Antarctic tourist trade. We planned to spend the day there but terrific winds made maneuverability difficult so the ship tried tendering, but dragged her anchors. As a result the Argentine Coast Guard waved us off and we were unable to land. We spent the rest of the day cruising the Beagle Channel, which is very picturesque. I also made my first presentation to the passengers. My talk was on the history of Cape Horn. They were a great crowd and asked good questions.
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