Ushuaia, Argentina
Nearing Cape Horn we entered the Beagle Channel and headed for Ushuaia, Argentina. Often referred to as the end of the world, it is the southernmost city in the world and its population of 150,000 makes it the closest population center to the South Pole.
Its splendid setting, tucked between the Beagle Channel and the southernmost slopes of the Andes, lends it an outpost atmosphere, as do Antarctic explorers readying for expeditions that depart from here.
As the Viking Sun docked, I stood on the top deck looking for a photo op. The retractable roof over the swimming pool/sundeck was open but no one was using this recreational facility! Could it have something to do with the snow capped mountain peaks on the horizon? (Or maybe the 40° outside temperature?)
From the dock this "postcard" photo presented itself. The Martial mountain range in the background surrounds the city with summits reaching 4,000'.
These bronze statues illustrate the hard life Ushuaia prisoners faced. Much of the city's infrastructure was built using prison labor.
This may be the end of the world, but there is a Hard Rock Cafe here!
On our sail out, we passed Faro les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, known in Argentina as the "Lighthouse at the End of the World." Standing 36 feet high, it has been in continuous operation since 1920. (Actually there is another lighthouse further south, but it is on a Chilean island.)
Nautical Term of the Day - Buoyed-Up
This describes the action of using a buoy to raise the bight of an anchor cable to prevent it from chafing on a rough bottom.
As the Viking Sun docked, I stood on the top deck looking for a photo op. The retractable roof over the swimming pool/sundeck was open but no one was using this recreational facility! Could it have something to do with the snow capped mountain peaks on the horizon? (Or maybe the 40° outside temperature?)
Leaving my cabin to go ashore, I found the entire crew in a mandatory fire drill. Today it required a complete shutdown of the electrical system to test the emergency generators. Since the elevators were off, I reached the gangway by descending 8 decks of stairs.
From the dock this "postcard" photo presented itself. The Martial mountain range in the background surrounds the city with summits reaching 4,000'.
Between 1896 and 1947, Ushuaia was home to Argentina's prison for dangerous and repeat offenders. The remoteness of the region made escape difficult if not impossible with many comparing it to Devil's Island in French Guiana. Today the facility is a museum.
These bronze statues illustrate the hard life Ushuaia prisoners faced. Much of the city's infrastructure was built using prison labor.
This may be the end of the world, but there is a Hard Rock Cafe here!
On our sail out, we passed Faro les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, known in Argentina as the "Lighthouse at the End of the World." Standing 36 feet high, it has been in continuous operation since 1920. (Actually there is another lighthouse further south, but it is on a Chilean island.)
Nautical Term of the Day - Buoyed-Up
This describes the action of using a buoy to raise the bight of an anchor cable to prevent it from chafing on a rough bottom.
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