Ushuaia,

Ushuaia is a colorful and delightful Argentinean community which lies on the northern shore midway through the Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego. The inhabitants proudly claim it to be the southernmost city in the world. For the past couple of decades, the Argentinean government has been trying very hard to induce people to move permanently to this remote community in order to develop a serious presence in its southernmost province. Local industry receives generous governmental incentives and workers receive special pay scales. The town has developed a real tourist economy and is now a duty free port full of upscale stores with brand name products. As a result, Ushuaia has grown from a sleepy little town of 6,000 in the late 1970s to a city of some 50,000 inhabitants today. The town is bustling, even though there are only three main streets which parallel the waterfront and the entire living area is very concentrated. Ushuaia has also become the main departure point for ships visiting the Antarctic Peninsula each summer. From here, the Caledonian Star will set sail late this evening for her first voyage to Antarctica this season.