Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands (Sp. Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur) is a province entirely separated by the Strait of Magellan from mainland Argentina on the Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego, which it shares with Chile to the west. Besides the Argentine part of Tierra del Fuego, the province encompasses Argentine claims to Antarctica, and to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, which are administered by the United Kingdom. In practice, the province is usually just called "Tierra del Fuego."

Tierra del Fuego was first inhabited around 12,000 years ago. When the first Europeans arrived, they found about 10,000 indigenous people living there from four different tribes: Yamana, Alakaluf , Selk’nam and Manek’enk . Within fifty years after discovery, only about 350 natives were left after diseases and exploitation ravaged the tribes. The provincial capital city is Ushuaia, from a native word meaning “bay towards the end.”

The province is divided in 4 departments (spanish departamentos), only the first two of which under the effective control of Argentina.

Departments:

1. Ushuaia (capital Ushuaia)
2. Río Grande (capital Río Grande)
3. Antártida Argentina : South of the 60° S parallel of latitude and therefore claims suspended under the Antarctic Treaty, sector of Antarctica between 25°W to 74°W, uninhabited apart from staff of scientific bases) (capital Esperanza)
4. Islas del Atlántico Sur: Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British overseas territories claimed by Argentina (capital Puerto Argentino)

See also

Tierra del Fuego Province, Chile

External link

• Tierra del Fuego provincial government homepage (in Spanish)