What is the southernmost city in the world?
Ushuaia, Argentina, is usually called the southernmost city in the world. Puerto Williams in Chile lies even farther south but is often considered a town because of its small population.
Ushuaia sits on the island of Tierra del Fuego, on the shore of the Beagle Channel, surrounded by the snowy Martial Mountains. It has a population of around 80,000 and calls itself el fin del mundo, the end of the world. It is the main departure point for cruises to Antarctica.
Puerto Williams, on Navarino Island in Chile, lies across the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia and slightly farther south. It has only a few thousand residents. In 2019, Chile officially designated it a city, which strengthened its claim, but Ushuaia remains the most widely recognized southernmost city.
Visiting the end of the world
Visitors come for hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park, boat trips to see sea lions and penguins and a ride on the End of the World Train, once used by prisoners at the town's old jail. The Southern Hemisphere's version of the northern lights can occasionally be seen.
Did You Know?
Ushuaia's old prison, which once held dangerous criminals, is now a maritime museum and a popular attraction.