Earth:Southernmost settlements

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Short description: World's most southerly settlements
Location of Punta Arenas, Ushuaia and Puerto Williams in the southern tip of South America.

Southernmost settlements are cities, towns, weather stations or permanent military bases which are farther south than latitude 45°S. They are closely related to the Southern Ocean or either the Roaring Forties or Furious Fifties. Antarctic bases are excluded due to not having a permanent population.

Unlike the northern hemisphere, where a large number of major cities including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Prague and Budapest are all located north of the 45°N parallel, the only permanently populated areas south of the 45°S parallel are the small and sparsely populated regions of southern Patagonia in South America, the Falkland Islands, and the southernmost tip of New Zealand.

Southernmost city

The southernmost city in the world is mainly a slogan used for tourism purposes to attract visitors to a city as well as the tourists headed for Antarctica. Ciudad (city) is not a legal designation in Chile and Argentina, except for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Currently, three places use this slogan: Ushuaia in Argentina as well as Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] in Chile , with the last being the absolute southernmost town by latitude (see table below). There are several more settlements further south but none are considered to be large enough to be classified as a 'city'. The three contending cities are from north to south:

  • Punta Arenas ( [ ⚑ ] 53°10′S 70°56′W / 53.167°S 70.933°W / -53.167; -70.933, population: 123,403), literally in Spanish: "Sandy Point", is the oldest and largest city in Southern Patagonia, at the Strait of Magellan and the capital of the Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region. It is the largest of the three contenders with around 130,000 permanent residents[9] and it is called the southernmost city by some media outlets. The basis of its claim to be the southernmost city rests on it being larger than Ushuaia, Río Grande, and Puerto Williams, all of which are farther south.
  • Ushuaia ( [ ⚑ ] 54°48′S 68°18′W / 54.8°S 68.3°W / -54.8; -68.3, population: 82,615), the capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, is more commonly regarded as the southernmost city in the world due to its sufficiently large population, its infrastructure, and its accepted classification as a city.[10][11][12] Ushuaia is located in a wide bay on the southern coast of the island of Tierra del Fuego, on the northern shore of the Beagle Channel; hence, it is further north than Puerto Williams.
  • Puerto Williams ( [ ⚑ ] 54°56′S 67°37′W / 54.933°S 67.617°W / -54.933; -67.617, population: 1,868), located on Isla Navarino, is the southernmost town in the world on the southern shore of the Beagle Channel. It is the capital of the Antártica Chilena Province, one of four provinces located in the Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region.[13] Puerto Williams is sometimes considered the southernmost city in the world by Chilean media and some large media international organisations,[14][15][16][2][3][4][5][6][7] although it promotes itself with the slogan Puerto Williams, the southernmost town in the world[8] in its tourism campaigns. It has a Naval Hospital of Puerto Williams, the Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum, the Guardiamarina Zañartu Airport and a university campus and it is a naval base of the Chilean Navy.

Settlements of more than 1,000 inhabitants south of 45°S

Line across the Earth
45°
45th parallel south

This is a list of all settlements south of the 45th parallel south with over 1,000 permanent inhabitants.

Rank Settlement name Country Population Latitude/longitude Köppen climate classification
1 Puerto Williams Chile 1,868[17] [ ⚑ ] 54°56′S 67°37′W / 54.933°S 67.617°W / -54.933; -67.617 Cfc
2 Ushuaia Argentina 82,615[18] [ ⚑ ] 54°48′S 68°18′W / 54.8°S 68.3°W / -54.8; -68.3 ET
3 Tolhuin Argentina 9,879[18] [ ⚑ ] 54°32′S 67°12′W / 54.533°S 67.2°W / -54.533; -67.2 ET
4 Río Grande Argentina 98,017[18] [ ⚑ ] 53°47′S 67°42′W / 53.783°S 67.7°W / -53.783; -67.7 Cfc/Dfc
5 Porvenir Chile 4,807 [ ⚑ ] 53°17′S 70°22′W / 53.283°S 70.367°W / -53.283; -70.367 Cfc
6 Punta Arenas Chile 123,403[17] [ ⚑ ] 53°10′S 70°56′W / 53.167°S 70.933°W / -53.167; -70.933 Cfc
7 Puerto Natales Chile 19,116 [ ⚑ ] 51°44′S 72°31′W / 51.733°S 72.517°W / -51.733; -72.517 Csb
8 Stanley Falkland Islands 2,115 [ ⚑ ] 51°41′S 57°51′W / 51.683°S 57.85°W / -51.683; -57.85 Cfc
9 Veintiocho de Noviembre Argentina 4,686 [ ⚑ ] 51°39′S 69°13′W / 51.65°S 69.217°W / -51.65; -69.217 Cfc
10 Río Gallegos Argentina 110,435 [ ⚑ ] 51°38′S 69°13′W / 51.633°S 69.217°W / -51.633; -69.217 BSk
11 Río Turbio Argentina 6,650 [ ⚑ ] 51°31′S 72°17′W / 51.517°S 72.283°W / -51.517; -72.283 Cfc
11 El Calafate Argentina 6,410 [ ⚑ ] 50°19′S 72°17′W / 50.317°S 72.283°W / -50.317; -72.283 BSk
12 Puerto Santa Cruz Argentina 3,397 [ ⚑ ] 50°01′S 68°31′W / 50.017°S 68.517°W / -50.017; -68.517 BSk
13 Comandante Luis Piedrabuena Argentina 4,175 [ ⚑ ] 49°50′S 68°54′W / 49.833°S 68.9°W / -49.833; -68.9 BSk
14 Gobernador Gregores Argentina 2,519 [ ⚑ ] 49°48′S 68°37′W / 49.8°S 68.617°W / -49.8; -68.617 BWk
15 Puerto San Julián Argentina 6,143 [ ⚑ ] 49°18′S 67°43′W / 49.3°S 67.717°W / -49.3; -67.717 BSk
16 Puerto Deseado Argentina 10,237 [ ⚑ ] 47°45′S 65°55′W / 47.75°S 65.917°W / -47.75; -65.917 BSk
17 Cochrane Chile 2,217 [ ⚑ ] 47°15′S 72°34′W / 47.25°S 72.567°W / -47.25; -72.567 Cfb
18 Pico Truncado Argentina 14,985 [ ⚑ ] 46°47′S 67°58′W / 46.783°S 67.967°W / -46.783; -67.967 BWk
19 Bluff New Zealand 1,840 [ ⚑ ] 46°36′S 168°20′E / 46.6°S 168.333°E / -46.6; 168.333 Cfb
20 Perito Moreno Argentina 3,588 [ ⚑ ] 46°36′S 70°55′W / 46.6°S 70.917°W / -46.6; -70.917 BSk
21 Las Heras Argentina 10,688 [ ⚑ ] 46°33′S 68°57′W / 46.55°S 68.95°W / -46.55; -68.95 BWk
22 Los Antiguos Argentina 2,047 [ ⚑ ] 46°32′S 71°37′W / 46.533°S 71.617°W / -46.533; -71.617 BSk
23 Chile Chico Chile 3,042 [ ⚑ ] 46°32′S 71°43′W / 46.533°S 71.717°W / -46.533; -71.717 Csb
24 Caleta Olivia Argentina 36,077 [ ⚑ ] 46°26′S 67°32′W / 46.433°S 67.533°W / -46.433; -67.533 BSk
25 Invercargill New Zealand 49,900 [ ⚑ ] 46°25′S 168°18′E / 46.417°S 168.3°E / -46.417; 168.3 Cfb
26 Riverton New Zealand 1,690 [ ⚑ ] 46°21′S 168°01′E / 46.35°S 168.017°E / -46.35; 168.017 Cfb
27 Balclutha New Zealand 4,280 [ ⚑ ] 46°14′S 169°45′E / 46.233°S 169.75°E / -46.233; 169.75 Cfb
28 Fairfax New Zealand 1,911 [ ⚑ ] 46°12′S 168°2′E / 46.2°S 168.033°E / -46.2; 168.033 Cfb
29 Mataura New Zealand 1,740 [ ⚑ ] 46°11′S 168°52′E / 46.183°S 168.867°E / -46.183; 168.867 Cfb
30 Winton New Zealand 2,450 [ ⚑ ] 46°08′S 168°20′E / 46.133°S 168.333°E / -46.133; 168.333 Cfb
31 Milton New Zealand 2,190 [ ⚑ ] 46°07′S 169°58′E / 46.117°S 169.967°E / -46.117; 169.967 Cfb
32 Gore New Zealand 8,250 [ ⚑ ] 46°05′S 168°56′E / 46.083°S 168.933°E / -46.083; 168.933 Cfb
33 Rada Tilly Argentina 6,208 [ ⚑ ] 45°55′S 67°33′W / 45.917°S 67.55°W / -45.917; -67.55 BSk
34 Comodoro Rivadavia Argentina 182,631 [ ⚑ ] 45°52′S 67°30′W / 45.867°S 67.5°W / -45.867; -67.5 BSk
35 Dunedin New Zealand 105,000 [ ⚑ ] 45°52′S 170°30′E / 45.867°S 170.5°E / -45.867; 170.5 Cfb
36 Río Mayo Argentina 2,939 [ ⚑ ] 45°40′S 70°16′W / 45.667°S 70.267°W / -45.667; -70.267 BSk
37 Sarmiento Argentina 8,028 [ ⚑ ] 45°35′S 69°05′W / 45.583°S 69.083°W / -45.583; -69.083 BSk
38 Waikouaiti New Zealand 1,270 [ ⚑ ] 45°35′S 170°40′E / 45.583°S 170.667°E / -45.583; 170.667 Cfb
39 Coihaique Chile 50,041 [ ⚑ ] 45°34′S 72°04′W / 45.567°S 72.067°W / -45.567; -72.067 Cfb
40 Puerto Chacabuco Chile 1,243 [ ⚑ ] 45°29′S 72°50′W / 45.483°S 72.833°W / -45.483; -72.833 Cfb
41 Te Anau New Zealand 2,930 [ ⚑ ] 45°25′S 167°43′E / 45.417°S 167.717°E / -45.417; 167.717 Cfb
42 Puerto Aisen Chile 16,936 [ ⚑ ] 45°24′S 72°41′W / 45.4°S 72.683°W / -45.4; -72.683 Cfb
43 Alexandra New Zealand 5,970 [ ⚑ ] 45°14′S 169°22′E / 45.233°S 169.367°E / -45.233; 169.367 BSk
44 Clyde New Zealand 1,250 [ ⚑ ] 45°11′S 169°19′E / 45.183°S 169.317°E / -45.183; 169.317 Cfb
45 Oamaru New Zealand 13,850 [ ⚑ ] 45°05′S 170°58′E / 45.083°S 170.967°E / -45.083; 170.967 Cfb
46 Cromwell New Zealand 6,640 [ ⚑ ] 45°04′S 169°20′E / 45.067°S 169.333°E / -45.067; 169.333 Cfb
47 Queenstown New Zealand 15,450 [ ⚑ ] 45°01′S 168°39′E / 45.017°S 168.65°E / -45.017; 168.65 Cfb
48 Alto Río Senguer Argentina 1,454 [ ⚑ ] 45°01′S 70°49′W / 45.017°S 70.817°W / -45.017; -70.817 Csc/Dsc

Southernmost settlements outside Antarctica

This list of settlements excludes research stations in Antarctica and its surrounding islands.

# Location Country Settlement
type
Latitude Population Population as of Köppen climate classification
1 Estación Naval
Islas Diego Ramirez
Chile Naval station 56°30′ S 4 2017 ET
2 Estación Meteorológica
de Cabo de Hornos
Chile Weather station 55°59′ S 4[19] 2008 ET
3 Puerto Toro Chile Hamlet 55°05′ S 36[20] 2002 ET
4 Caleta Wulaia Chile Hamlet 55°02′ S ? ? ET
5 Caleta Eugenia Chile Hamlet 54°56′ S ? ? ?
6 Puerto Williams Chile Town 54°56′ S 1,868[17] 2002 Cfc
7 Puerto Navarino Chile Village 54°55′ S ? ? Cfc
8 Puerto Almanza Argentina Village 54°52′ S 200 ? Cfc
9 Ushuaia Argentina City 54°48′ S 82,615[18] 2010 Cfc
10 Tolhuin Argentina Town 54°31′ S 9,879[18] ? Cfc
11 Macquarie Island Station Australia Scientific research station 54°30′ S 20 to 40 ? ET
12 Grytviken South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Hamlet 54°19′ S up to 18 ? ET
13 Río Grande Argentina City 53°45′ S 98,017[18] 2010 Cfc/Dfc
14 Porvenir Chile Town 53°17′ S 5,465 ? Cfc
15 Punta Arenas Chile City 53°17′ S 123,403[17] 2002 Cfc
  • The former Argentine base Corbeta Uruguay (59°28′ S) in South Sandwich Islands was the southernmost settlement outside Antarctica from 1976–1982.

Settlements on the Antarctic continent

There are many research stations in Antarctica, both permanent and summer only. Many of the stations are staffed all year. McMurdo Station is the largest with an average population of 1200.

A total of 30 countries (as of October 2006), all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operate seasonal (summer) or year-round research stations on the continent and on its surrounding islands. In addition to these permanent stations, approximately 30 field camps are established each austral summer to support specific one off projects.[21]

The full list is available at: Research stations in Antarctica.

See also

References

  1. "Ushuaia ya no será la ciudad más austral del mundo". 30 June 1998. http://edant.clarin.com/diario/1998/06/30/e-04801d.htm. Retrieved 1 November 2014. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Puerto Williams: ubicada entre Tierra del Fuego por el norte y el Cabo de Hornos por el sur , por lo tanto es la cuidad mas Austral del país y del mundo". http://www.turismopaliaike.com/williams.htm. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 http://www.infinito-sur.com/ , retrieved 9 April 2012
  4. 4.0 4.1 Puerto Williams espera una gran temporada de centolla[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}], retrieved 9 April 2012
  5. 5.0 5.1 Escritorio Estudiantes , retrieved 9 April 2012
  6. 6.0 6.1 dibam, retrieved 9 April 2012
  7. 7.0 7.1 Times Online
  8. 8.0 8.1 Website thisischile.cl Puerto Williams, the southernmost town in the world
  9. Interactive map, INE Census 2002, Chile. (Click on XII Region and then on Punta Arenas)
  10. Boston Globe 2008
  11. "Tierra del Fuego, Argentina". Encarta. http://encarta.msn.com/media_461538660/Tierra_del_Fuego_Argentina.html. Retrieved 2008-09-11. 
  12. "Ushuaia". Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620331/Ushuaia. Retrieved 2009-05-23. 
  13. WillySol. "Puerto Williams - Chile". http://www.ptowilliams.cl/Puerto_Williams.html. Retrieved 1 November 2014. 
  14. "Una localidad chilena le roba a Ushuaia la etiqueta de ciudad más austral del mundo". 29 May 2019. https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/una-localidad-chilena-le-roba-ushuaia-etiqueta-nid2252719. 
  15. "Por qué Ushuaia perdió el título de "la ciudad más austral del mundo"". 30 May 2019. https://www.clarin.com/viajes/ushuaia-perdio-titulo-ciudad-austral-mundo_0_aYQmqaR4Q.html. 
  16. "Argentinos admiten derrota: Reconocen a Puerto Williams como la ciudad más austral del mundo". 30 May 2019. https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-magallanes/2019/05/30/argentinos-admiten-derrota-reconocen-a-puerto-williams-como-la-ciudad-mas-austral-del-mundo.shtml. 
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "Ciudades, pueblos, aldeas y caseríos 2019" (in es) (pdf). Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (Chile). March 2019. p. 132. https://geoarchivos.ine.cl/File/pub/Cd_Pb_Al_Cs_2019.pdf. 
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 "Censo Nacional de Población, Hogares y Viviendas 2022. Resultados provisionales" (in es) (pdf). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INDEC). January 2023. p. 32. https://www.indec.gob.ar/ftp/cuadros/poblacion/cnphv2022_resultados_provisionales.pdf. 
  19. "Vida al fin del mundo: Una familia chilena haciendo soberanía en Cabo de Hornos". Emol. http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=289567. Retrieved 1 November 2014. 
  20. "DEMOGRAFÍA". http://www.ine.cl/canales/chile_estadistico/demografia_y_vitales/demografia/demografia.php. Retrieved 1 November 2014. 
  21. 4.0 Antarctica – Past and Present

Bibliography