Puerto Natales, Chile

Puerto Natales is a city in the Chilean Patagonia, located about 250 km north of Punta Arenas and is the final port of call for the Navimag ferry sailing from Puerto Montt as well as the primary transit point for travelers to Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.

1 History and current status
2 Demography
3 Geography
4 Local government
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History and current status

Puerto Natales was founded in 1911 as an port for sheep industry. During the late half of the 20th century sheep industry declined and many people from Puerto Natales started to work in the coal mines of Rio Turbio in Argentina. It has good tourism facilities, as it has become the base for excursions to the Torres del Paine National Park, the Cueva del Milodón (Milodon Cave), the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park and the Alacalufes National Reserve. The latter includes the Fjord of the Mountains, Cordillera Riesco and Cordillera Sarmiento.

[edit] Demography

Puerto Natales is the capital of the province of Última Esperanza, ("Last Hope"), one of the four provinces that make up the Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, in the southernmost part of Chile. According to the 2002 INE census, the province has a population of 19,885 while the municipality (or "comuna") of Natales has 19,116 (10,068 male, 9,048 female; 16.978 urban, 2,138 rural).

[edit] Geography

The municipality's area is 49,924 km², which renders it one of the largest municipalities in Chile, being larger than seven regions of the country. Its population density is only 0.38 persons/km². Its geographic coordinates are: Latitude, 51° 43' 60S; Longitude, 72° 31' 0W; Altitude (meters), 3.