The Antarctic Peninsula: Argentina and Chile in the era of global change

Figures & data

Table 1. Key characteristics of Ushuaia (Argentina) and Punta Arenas (Chile)⁵⁷.

	Ushuaia	Punta Arenas
Establishment	1884	1848
Inhabitants	67,600	125,000
Administrative status	Capital of the Argentinian province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctic and South Atlantic Islands	Capital of the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region
Distance from Antarctic (km)	About 1,000	About 1,300
Development and strategic policy	Most attractive bridgehead for Antarctic tourism (90% of the more 35,000 tourists who travel per year) Key role for sharing scientific knowledge and Antarctic identity Further economic and social involvement for the local community	Key site and principal point of entry for scientific missions Over 20 countries use Punta Arenas as a gateway to the Antarctic New development plan for improving infrastructure Further support to strengthen Antarctic identity among the local community