Diego Ramírez Islands
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The Diego Ramírez Islands (Sp. Islas Diego Ramírez) are a small group of lesser islands located in the southernmost extreme of Chile about 100 km (60 mi) southwest of Cape Horn and 93 km SSE of Ildefonso Islands, stretching 8 km north-south (not to be confused with Ramirez Island far to the north). Their land area is little more than 1 km². The islands belong to the Commune of Cabo de Hornos in Antártica Chilena Province of Magallanes y Antártica Chilena Region. They are divided into a smaller northern group with six islets, and a larger southern group, separated by a passage 3 km wide. The islands contain the southernmost point of the South American continent (including islands), a title often incorrectly awarded to Cape Horn. Águila Islet (Islote Águila), the southernmost land of the group, is at 56°32'9"S.
They were first sighted on 12 February 1619 by the Garcia de Nodal expedition, and named after the cosmographer of the expedition, Diego Ramírez.[1] They were cited as the southernmost land mass plotted as of that time, and retained the honor for 156 years, until the discovery of the South Sandwich Islands in 1775.
The Chilean Navy established a meteorological station above Caleta Condell, a small cove on the northeast side of Isla Gonzalo (Gonzalo Island), in 1957, and resupply it several times each year.[2] This is the southernmost manned outpost of South America (including islands), even if the South Sandwich Islands are regarded as part of South America, since the Argentinian station on Thule Island was dismantled in June 1982 (in the aftermath of the Falklands War). The next southerly manned outpost of South America is the lighthouse of Cape Horn. Cruise ships occasionally pass by on their way to and from Antarctica.
The islands are an important nesting site for a number of southern seabirds, including the Black-browed Albatross, Shy Albatross Grey-headed Albatross, Rockhopper Penguin, and Southern Giant-Petrel.
 Diego Ramirez Islands. |
 The Chilean station on Isla Gonzalo, with the beacon visible at highest point of the island. |
 Overview Map. |
[edit] References
- ^ Dingwall, P.R., ed. (1995). Progress in Conservation of the Subantarctic Islands, p. 107. The World Conservation Union. ISBN 2831702577.
- ^ Dingwall (1995), p. 109.
[edit] External links
