Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego

The Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego ( German " Great Land of Fire Island " ) is the main island of Tierra del Fuego archipelago, from which it takes up about half of the area. It is separated by the Strait of Magellan from the South American mainland and is among the countries Argentina (eastern part 28507.3 km ²) and Chile ( 29484.7 km ²). In the south of the Beagle Channel separates it from the Chilean islands of Hoste, Navarino, Lennox, Picton and Nueva and many other smaller islands. 30 kilometers east of the Eastern Cape of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego is the Argentine Isla de los Estados.

Politically, one of the island on the Chilean side of Región de Magallanes y Antártica Chilena de la ( provinces of Tierra del Fuego and Antártica Chilena partly ) on the Argentinean side of the province of Tierra del Fuego ( Río Grande and Ushuaia departments ).

With an area of ​​47,992 km ², the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego is at the 30th place of the biggest islands in the world. The main towns on the island are the Río Grande and Ushuaia (both Argentina); largest settlement on the Chilean side is Porvenir. Life on the well-developed Argentinean side of the island, over 100,000 people, there are on the Chilean side of less than 10,000.

The Monte Darwin is with 2488 meters the highest point on the island. The southernmost point marks the Cabo San Pío, the easternmost Cabo San Diego on the Península Mitre. On the Chilean side is dominated by two bays, the Bahía inútil and Almirantazgo fjord the image. In the south of the island lies the Lago Fagnano, a larger lake.

In the north of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego to find oil deposits - the most important conveyors are in the Chilean part of the island at Cerro Sombrero.