The Isla de los Estados, additionally known as Staten Island, is positioned in the southern of Argentina, separated from Tierra del Fuego by the Le Maire Strait, which spans 18 miles. This island stretches in an east-west route with a place of 556 square kilometers and is perpetually shrouded in dense fog, protecting its surroundings.
The Isla de los Estados is situated 230 kilometers away from the foremost towns on the mainland. It can most effectively be reached by cruising eastward from Ushuaia via the Beagle Channel or by crossing the Argentine Sea from the Río Grande. Then, you may navigate via the treacherous waters of the Le Maire Strait, acknowledged to be one of the most turbulent regions of the South American seas.
Map of Isla de los Estados
Name | Isla de los Estados (English: Staten Island) |
Country | Argentina |
Province | Tierra del Fuego |
Coordinates | 54°47′S 64°15′W |
Area | 534 km2 (206 sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC -3 |
Population | 4 Argentine marines |
Airport | N/A |
History
The Isla de los Estados was discovered by a Dutch excursion on January 24, 1616.
In search of a new path to the Pacific and to challenge the distinct navigation privileges granted to the East Indies by way of the Strait of Magellan, Jacob le Maire embarked on a journey to the "give up of the arena." Not only did he locate the expected passage, but he also observed this island.
The island became called "The Land of the Nation" or "Earth" because it changed, believed to be a peninsula of "Terra Australis Incognita" and "The States," in honor of the seven Dutch provinces that fought for independence.
Since then, several heroic figures have left a profound mark on the island's records, making it a sovereign territory. In 1829, Luis Vernet visited the island, and on October 6, 1868, it became transferred by means of Mitre to Luis Piedrabuena as a praise for his patriotic work.
A few months later, on February 19, 1869, Captain Piedrabuena raised the Argentine flag for the first time on the island close to Puerto Cook.
In April 1884, the South Atlantic Expedition, commanded by Rear Admiral Augusto Lasserre, arrived at San Juan de Salvamento to establish a sub-prefecture and install a lighthouse. On May 25, the San Juan de Salvamento Lighthouse, also known as the Lighthouse on the End of the World, which was constructed according to Law No. 1390 of October 1883, was completed. It later became unique as a national historical monument.
Currently, the Isla de los Estados is beneath the supervision of the Argentine Navy, and it has a Maritime Traffic Monitoring and Control Station (PVyCTM) in Puerto Parry, the island's most effective inhabited vicinity, set up on December 4, 1978, beneath the provisions of the United Nations Charter. The Naval Base in Puerto Parry was later renamed "Comandante Luis Piedrabuena" in 1997.
From this place, its project is to control maritime traffic in its area of impact and provide help to vessels passing through the vicinity. It is also used to provide logistical support for medical studies and the recovery of national historical background.
In 1991, Article 54 of the Constitution of Tierra del Fuego Province unique the National Island as an ecological safety location.
According to Decree No. 929/sixteen, this protected place became converted into a desolate tract nature reserve to ensure the preservation of the 52,736 hectares of land covering the island and the Año Nuevo archipelago, as a consequence, increasing the blanketed area of the island.
Soil, Climate and Animals
The Isla de los Estados boasts a rugged terrain characterized by steep peaks that are regularly continuously snow-protected, reaching elevations of as much as 825 meters. Along the coast, a chain of bays and fjords can be observed, followed by cliffs and steep slopes.
The island offers a putting evaluation: the mountain degrees seem jagged and uneven, but the interior valleys are lush with dense flowers, which means ample rainfall exceeding a thousand millimeters yearly.
The soil is blanketed with peat and dense forests, a feature of the Andean location because it serves as a prominent feature of the area.
The climate here bears a resemblance to the western location of Tierra del Fuego: its prominent feature is its unpredictable and humid nature. In addition, temperatures vary between -6 and 10 tiers Celsius. The steady winds bathe the shoreline, forever showering it with sea spray and developing the exclusive fog that envelops the island.
In terms of its fauna, the Isla de los Estados is famous for the inherent boundaries of island conditions. Penguins, sea lions, otters, and representatives of the rodent's own family abound.
As for avian species, their diversity is considerable, with various marine and continental birds gracing the island. Seagulls, cormorants, albatrosses, petrels, geese, and even some scavengers have adapted to the harsh weather.
The included area is also domestic to vulnerable Patagonian animal species, including the southern carancho and Antarctic pigeons. Inhabiting the island is also a unique small rodent species known as the tuco-tuco, together with other added species like deer and goats.
References:
https://findelmundo.tur.ar/es/reservas-naturales/767
https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/dia-nacional-de-la-isla-de-los-estados
https://ampargentina.org/areas/isla-de-los-estados/