Punta Arenas, a city located in the Magellan region in the extreme south of Chile, was founded in the year 1848 during the gold rush in the Strait of Magellan.
The city became an important commercial port, an entry point to Patagonia and a base for Antarctic expeditions.
During the 20th century, Punta Arenas experienced a great economic boom thanks to the wool and sheep industry, and its historic center preserves beautiful buildings from that time.
Currently, the city is an important tourist and service center in Chilean Patagonia, with attractions such as the Strait of Magellan, the Torres del Paine National Park and the Seno Otway penguin colony.
See more about the history of Punta Arenas
