Puerto Natales City
Puerto Natales is a small town alongside
Ultima Esperanza sound with a population
of 19.000 inhabitants who make of it a
peaceful place to live all year long. Near 254 kms. to Punta Arenas to the NW, has
become a blessed place to develop
commercial activities as tourism, fishing
and farming.
The city has a good tourist infrastructure
coffee shops, restaurants, a casino, small
and picturesque shopping, a history
museum, and travel agencies to provide all
tourism services you may need. There is
almost 100 lodging chances from bunk
houses to fine hotels.
History
Puerto Natales comes from the Latin term natalis, which means birth. Was founded
in 1911 and was colonized by people from
the Chiloe Island, and by German and
English colonists who, with their particular
persistence, transformed the Patagonia
into one of the most important cattle
producers and exporters of the world, until
the end of the seventies.
Location & Geography
The city is located at the bank of Channel
Senoret inlet, which mixes its waters at
the south with Almirante Montt gulf, a big
interior sea and at the north with Ultima
Esperanza fiord, named like this (Last
Hope) by its discoverer in 1577, Juan de
Ladrillero, who was desperately searching,
without success, the west way out of the
Magellan Strait.
Puerto Natales is 256 km. to Rio Gallegos
(NE) (Argentina), 362 km. to Calafate
(Argentina) (N), and 48 km. from Rio
Turbio (Argentina) (N). Check How to get
to Puerto Natales page for more information.
Main Attractions
One of the main atractions is La Cueva del
Milodón 24 kms north, a cave with 200
meters deep and 80 meters wide that
holds a replica of the animal whose
remains where found by Captain
Eberhard.
An easy walk is Frigorífico Bories, 4 km
north, a a freezer built in 1913 to process
wool and meat from local producers.
To know everything you can do in this
zone goto Puerto Natales Excursions. See a Google Map of Puerto Natales. |
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