End of the world train and end of the road

Saturday 14 March 2020

The southernmost functioning railway in the world is the Southern Fuegian Railway which goes by the moniker Train to the End of the World. It is 10km  fromUshuaia.

End of the world station

The gauge is only half a meter or 1ft 73/4 inches wide.

Just as I was going to board, a prisoner tried to take my bag....

When the prison was set up at the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego, inmates were used in 1902 to construct  a proper set of buildings. Eventually a 600mm gauge track for a steam locomotive was laid using prison labour to upgrade the oxen drawn track for transport of construction materials. The line connected the prison with the forestry camps, bringing wood for construction, heating and cooking.


The prisoners worked in extreme conditions every day in a team of 90 inmates and 30 armed guards..

The prison closed in 1947, without prison labour and despite efforts to keep the train running, it proved unsuccessful and closed in 1952.












The railway gradually extended into the remote areas forests as the wood was exhausted, the line followed the valley of the Pipo river into higher terrain

In 1994 a shorter distance railway was rebuilt using steam and diesel locomotives on a narrower gauge and operating as a heritage railway.

A 15 minute stop allowed us to take photos and climb to the viewpoint above the station and see the Macarena waterfall on Toto Gorge.






























We continued along the valley to El Parque and the end of the journey.

Tierra del Fuego National Park

I rejoined the bus tour group,  the first stop was Zaratiegui Bay on the Beagle channel, which claimed to have the most southern post office (found incorrect since the trip to Antartica has one at Port Lockroy.)

Look across the Beagle channel from Zaratiegui Cove. The high mountains are in Chile .

Redonda Island in the middle of the picture

Next we turned north of the Beagle channel to visit some lakes and rivers in the area. 

Lake Roca from the Argentinian shore  about half way it is in Chile.

Lake Roca is completely surrounded by the Guanaco and Piramides Mountain Ranges, both sub ranges of the Andes, .Depending on which side of the border you are on, the lake is called Roca in Argentina, Errazuriz in Chile and sometimes Acigami, the native Yamana name. It is popular place for camping, horse riding and kayaking.

Roco lake, sometimes known as the Green lake, but a smaller lagoon nearby that flows into it that should have the title.

The Lapatia river which flows into the Roco Lake has a well appointed visitors centre called Alakush, it has good views of the surrounding countryside.


Lagoon Verde eventually flow into Roco Lake. Beavers are at it again.

 

Cherry trees along with Beech trees

Now the end of the road at Lapataia Bay

National Route No3 ends

History depends on the narrator.

Striated Caracara. (member of falcon family)

Chimango Caracara

The visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park was most enjoyable

March 14, 2020 Tags : Acacami lake , End of world train , Mt Condor

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