In the extreme south of Chile, opposite the island of Tierra del Fuego, lies the port city of Punta Arenas, which is inhabited by around 126,000 people and is therefore the largest city in Chilean southern Patagonia. Downtown Punta Arenas is located on the Strait of Magellan and on the east coast of the Brunswick Peninsula. It competes with other cities for the status of being the southernmost city in the world, but at least it can probably be described as the southernmost city in the world. The urban area not only includes the entire Brunswick Peninsula, but also numerous mostly uninhabited islands. Founded on December 18, 1848 as a penal colony, the importance of the colony grew continuously in the following decades due to its location on the important trade route of the Strait of Magellan and the discovery of hard coal. The
Punta Arenas experienced its first major boom during the California Gold Rush, when the city served as a port of call for clipper ships. After the opening of the Panama Canal, the port lost its importance, but the city's second spirit of optimism came in time when it became Chile's center for the wool trade. Punta Arenas today represents a colorful mix of different cultures and people, from the descendants of Portuguese seafarers to English sheep farmers. A large proportion of the population is of Croatian descent, and Russian, Jewish, German and Swiss immigrants have also shaped the image of the city. In Punta Arenas there is a monument to Ferdinand Magellan in the middle of the “Plaza de Armas” (“Square of Arms” or Central Square). Also worth seeing is the cemetery, which has been declared a national monument and whose grave inscriptions bear witness to the city's immigration history. Punta Arenas is also a popular starting point for excursions to one of the most scenically spectacular scenery in the world - the region's fjord landscapes.