Tierra del Fuego << tih EH ruh dehl foo AY goh >> is the name of a group of islands lying off the extreme southern tip of South America. The name Tierra del Fuego means Land of Fire. In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan named the region when he sighted large fires blazing along the shore. He was trying to find a passage to the Pacific. The Indians who lived there usually kept many fires burning to warm themselves.
The islands cover 26,872 square miles (69,598 square kilometers). The Strait of Magellan separates them from the mainland. The largest island, also called Tierra del Fuego, covers 19,280 square miles (49,935 square kilometers). The city of Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost seat of government, lies on this island. The islanders are called Fuegians. Tierra del Fuego has a population of about 135,000.
Argentina owns the eastern part of Tierra del Fuego island, while Chile controls the western part. Each country also owns several of the smaller islands. Chile controls the Strait of Magellan, and maintains a naval base on Navarino Island. Cape Horn is at the southern tip of the islands.
See also Cape Horn .
