The End of the World

Photos: Above, Ushuaia borders the bay far below one of many mountain valleys towering above. Below, the marina at Ushuaia lays in the flat water below the mountains, cobblestone streets make up the town with mountains towering above, and at bottom the sun rises over the town. - AC

After nearly 15 hours on a bus, which crossed through desolate Patagonian pampas, over the Straight of Magellan via ferry and bumped along gravel roads through Chilean Tierra del Fuego, the road begins to rise up into magestic mountains. It winds it´s way up the walls of valleys far above blue lakes. The bland brown shrubs and yellow grasses which grow short and tough next to the ground throughout Patagonia begin to give way to stands trees and forest. Misty clouds cling to the sides of the mountains, trapping the peaks in a fog with no visible limit. The view is majestic, mysterious and dramatic. Snow still clings to the mountains despite the winter months. Looking up at the grey mist and the black ridges and peaks, it seems obvious even without knowing the destination that beyond those mountains the world will end.

Descending down again out of the mountains the forest completely takes over. The tough stout shrubs of Patagonia and short yellow grasses of Tierra del Fuego drop into memory and the forest makes clear the harshness of this boarder. Trees grow together in tight forest clumps, clinging together against the weather. Entire stands of trees lay on the ground, seemingly laid out by immesureable winds. Inside the forest clumps branches and trunks litter the floor with wood, victim to the wind. The mist remains, but now the sun succedes in shining through, casting a golden glow over the harsh landscape.

As the bus rounds a corner, a vast blue bay stretches out like a giant aquatic valley surrounded by tall jagged peaks of rock. The bay stretches out towards the southeast, dotted with islands. Tucked into the corner of the bay, safe and sheltered into crags and valleys at the feet of the mountians is a small town. Small streets lined with modest homes amongst beautiful gardens of different colored lupine. Connecting the town to the bay is a port with large cruise ships carrying passengers through the Beagle Canal from the Straight of Magellan and the vast islands of southern Chile or Antarctica as well as freight ships carrying supplies for the region. The bay stretches away from the town towards the ocean, and at the far end of bay, when it´s waters meet the Atlantic, the world ends.

Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. It is located at about 55 degrees south and is the capital of Tierra del Fuego as well as being the major port for Antarctic tourism and shipping. In the summer, it recieves 18 hours of daylight and in the winter less than 7. It is never warm, but in the summer the 18 degree celcius is ideal for hiking among the mountains that overlook the city and the bay.

It is quite possibly the most beautiful city in Argentina. While the diversity and vastness of the country has much to offer, the mountains, Ushuia Bay and the breathtaking majesty of the city are incredible. Despite it´s asthetic appeal, it´s status as the tip of the world and the closest thing to Antartica make it that much more magical.

- AC