Punta Arenas is the largest and most populous city in the Magellan region and Chilean Antarctica, with a population of about 130,000.The city is located on the southwest coast of Patagonia, on the Strait of Magellan, an important shipping route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.Punta Arenas was founded in 1848 as a military outpost and later became a center of trade and port activity for the import and export of goods between Europe and Asia.The city is also known as "the gateway to Antarctica," as many Antarctic expeditions depart from here. There are also several museums and research centers dedicated to Antarctic discovery and polar exploration.Punta Arenas has a cold and windy climate, with average temperatures ranging from 5°C to 10°C throughout the year. Because of its austral location and exposure to cold ocean currents, winters can be particularly harsh and snowy.Among the city’s tourist attractions are the Braun-Menéndez Regional Museum, which houses collections of artifacts and objects from local culture and history; the monument to navigator Ferdinand Magellan, located atop the Cerro de la Cruz hill; the Punta Arenas Cemetery, a historic site with numerous graves and funerary monuments; and the central market, where typical products such as seafood, meat, and handicrafts can be purchased.Punta Arenas is also an ideal base for visiting some of Patagonia’s natural wonders, such as the Magallanes National Reserve and Torres del Paine National Park, where spectacular landscapes of mountains, lakes, and glaciers can be seen.
