Wellington (island)
| Isla Wellington | ||
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| Waters | Pacific Ocean | |
| Geographical location | 49 ° 22 ′ S , 74 ° 56 ′ W | |
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| length | 157 km | |
| width | 78 km | |
| surface | 5 556 km² | |
| Highest elevation | 1463 m | |
| Residents | 250 <1 inh / km² |
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| main place | Puerto Edén | |
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Wellington ( Spanish Isla Wellington ) is a very large island in southern Chile in the Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena .
geography
The long island is separated from the mainland by the Messier Canal . The canal is named after the French astronomer Charles Messier . The island is already in the area of the Antarctic ice drift south of the Baker Channel . It is criss-crossed by numerous fjords , it is quite rocky and has smaller forest areas.
- Area: 5556 km²
- highest elevation 1463 m
- the most famous mountain is the Monte Nuestra Señora with 1046 m in the south of the island
The most important place on the island is Puerto Edén with around 250 inhabitants, otherwise the island is practically uninhabited. The place is 373 km north of Puerto Natales . A number of indigenous people from the Kawéskar people still live on the island .
Due to its southern location, the climate is already sub-polar and very rainy.
history
In 1675 , Captain Jose de Torres arrived on the island. On January 13, 1676 , Don Antonio de Vea sailed to about 50 degrees south of latitude and thus practically to the southern tip of the island of Wellington. Between 1714 and 1717 , the French Joapchim d'Arquistade explored the island world northwest of Tierra del Fuego . In late 1899 , Vice Admiral Francisco Nef Jara investigated the hydrography around the Messier Canal.
Puerto Eden was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on May 26, 1960 .
tourism
Much of the island is part of the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park . The few tourists who visit the island mostly go hiking, kayaking or trekking tours.
economy
In addition to tourism, the inhabitants live mainly from fishing.