Ile Gordon (Argentina)

Off to southern Patagonia to explore Gordon Island, to the east of the Darwin Range, in the Beagle Channel. This rocky island of 591km² is home to numerous marine bird species such as albatross and cormorant. In the surroundings there are also colonies of sea lions and Magellanic penguins, Patagonia's most famous animals. On the north face of the island is Romanche Bay.

The island is Chilean and part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Lots of islets in the area were claimed by both Argentina and Chile but Pope Jean-Paul II was responsible for getting the two countries to negotiate. Nowadays the frontiers between the two countries are defined but Argentina and Chile are still quarrelling over whether Ushuaia or Puerto Willams is the "end of the world". In order to understand better, Puerto Williams is definitely further south but is really only a hamlet. My advice is, don't get involved in this never ending debate!