| Puerto Toro | |
|---|---|
| Puerto Toro | |
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Puerto Toro
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| Coordinates (town): | |
| Region | Magallanes |
| Province | Antártica Chilena |
| Municipalidad | Cabo de Hornos |
| Comuna | Cabo de Hornos |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipalidad |
| • Alcade | Hugo Henriquez Matus |
| Population (2002 census [1]) | |
| • Total | 36 |
| Time zone | Chilean Standard (UTC-4 hours) |
| • Summer (DST) | Chilean Daylight (UTC-3 hours) |
| Area code(s) | Country + town = 56 + ? |
Puerto Toro, founded 1892 by Governor of Punta Arenas Señoret[1] is a hamlet on the eastern coast of Navarino Island, Chile.
It belongs to the Commune of Cabo de Hornos, in Antártica Chilena Province of Magallanes y Antártica Chilena Region. Excluding research stations in Antarctica, Puerto Toro is the southernmost permanently inhabited community on the globe, located at and some 3,900 km off the South Pole. Puerto Toro is inhabited by 36 people according to INE's 2002 census, including fishermen and their families.
Over a hundred years ago, Puerto Toro was one of the most important towns in the region of the Beagle Channel as a result of "gold fever." Once interest in exploring for gold passed, however, Puerto Toro's importance diminished. Today, Puerto Toro is known for "centolla," the prized southern king crab.