In the far south of Chile, opposite the island of Tierra del Fuego, lies the port city of Punta Arenas, which is inhabited by approximately 120,000 people and is thus the largest city in the southern Chilean Patagonia. Founded on 18 December 1848 as a penal colony, the importance of the colony grew steadily through its location on the important trade route of the Strait of Magellan and the discovery of hard coal in the following decades. Punta Arenas experienced its first major boom during the California Gold Rush, when the city served as a port of call for the clipper ships. After the opening of the Panama Canal, the port lost its importance, however, the city's second sense of optimism came in time, as it became Chile's center for the wool trade. Today, Punta Arenas is a colorful mix of different cultures and people, from the descendants of Portuguese sailors to English sheep breeders. A large proportion of the population is of Croatian descent, and Russian, Jewish, German and Swiss immigrants have also influenced the image of the city. Worth seeing is the cemetery of Punta Arenas, whose grave inscriptions, which are often written not in Spanish, but in English, German or Croatian, testify to the immigration history of the city. The cemetery has since been designated a national monument. Also a memorial stone for Vice Admiral Graf Spee is in the cemetery. Punta Arenas is also a popular starting point for excursions into one of the most scenic scenery in the world, the fjord landscapes of the region and the Torres del Paine National Park.
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