Mitre Peninsula
Encyclopedia
Mitre Peninsula is the easternmost part of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego
, located in the very southeast of the island, with its easternmost point, Cabo San Diego, 29 km northwest of Isla de los Estados
, from which it is separated by Le Maire Strait
. In the south, the peninsula is bounded by the Beagle Channel
, and in the north by the Argentine Sea
. It is under 4000 km² in area. The highest peak is Cerro Campana in the southern Montes Negros range with 1026 meters. Monte Atocha is nearby southwest.
The peninsula was named by explorer Julio Popper to honor Bartolomé Mitre
.
The area is part of Ushuaia
municipality and department
of Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)
. The only settlements (all estancia
s) are Estancia Policarpo on the north coast (on Policarpo River), Estancia Bahía Aguirre (southwest coast), Estancia Bahía Sloggett (further west), and Estancia Puerto Rancho (close to the southernmost point of the island, Cabo San Pio
) http://www.tiempofueguino.com.ar/main/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=2575.
Some sources also list Bahía Thetis, on the namesake bay five kilometers west of Cabo San Diego, as populated place. There is a lighthouse at Cabo San Diego (Cabo San Diego Light), established in 1934, and another one at Cabo San Pio (Cabo San Pio Light, established in 1919. Both are still in operation.
In the south of the peninsula are the southermost cave
s of the world http://www.laventa.it/download/kur/KUR_4.pdf.
Formerly, the area was inhabited by the indigenous
Haush
and Selknam
http://www.centrohipicoushuaia.com.ar/peninsulamitre.htm.
Two roads approach the peninsula from the west, but only the northern one enters it: Road 24CA, from northwest, running along the north coast until Estancia Maria Luisa, followed by a trail until Estancia Policarpo, and Road 24CJ, along the south coast until Estancia Haberton. Both roads are branching east from National Route 3, which runs north-south west of the peninsula. Road 24CJ is the direction of Ushuaia
, and 24CA of Río Grande
. http://www.alconet.com.ar/pais/mapas/TierraDelFuego.gif
Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego
Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego is an island near the southern tip of South America from which it is separated by the Strait of Magellan...
, located in the very southeast of the island, with its easternmost point, Cabo San Diego, 29 km northwest of Isla de los Estados
Isla de los Estados
Isla de los Estados is an Argentine island that lies off the eastern extremity of the Argentine portion of Tierra del Fuego, from which it is separated by the Le Maire Strait...
, from which it is separated by Le Maire Strait
Le Maire Strait
The Le Maire Strait is a sea passage between Isla de los Estados and the eastern extremity of the Argentine portion of Tierra del Fuego....
. In the south, the peninsula is bounded by the Beagle Channel
Beagle Channel
thumb|right|300px|Aereal view of Beagle Channel. The Chilean [[Navarino Island]] is seen in the top-right while the Argentine part of [[Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego]] is seen at the bottom-left....
, and in the north by the Argentine Sea
Argentine Sea
thumb|150px|Argentine Sea, off the [[Atlantic Ocean|atlantic]] coast of ArgentinaThe Argentine Sea refers to the sea within the continental shelf off the Argentine mainland...
. It is under 4000 km² in area. The highest peak is Cerro Campana in the southern Montes Negros range with 1026 meters. Monte Atocha is nearby southwest.
The peninsula was named by explorer Julio Popper to honor Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre Martínez was an Argentine statesman, military figure, and author. He was the President of Argentina from 1862 to 1868.-Life and times:...
.
The area is part of Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
municipality and department
Departments of Argentina
Departments form the second level of administrative division in the provinces of Argentina. There are no departments in the city of Buenos Aires, which has so far been divided into neighbourhoods as its administrative divisions, but is to be divided now into communes by a recently passed local act...
of Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)
Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)
Tierra del Fuego is an Argentine province entirely separated from mainland Argentina by the Strait of Magellan. It includes:* The eastern part of the Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego archipelago and the Staten Island.* Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands and to...
. The only settlements (all estancia
Estância
Estância is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Sergipe. Its population was 62,218 and its area is 642 km². The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Estância....
s) are Estancia Policarpo on the north coast (on Policarpo River), Estancia Bahía Aguirre (southwest coast), Estancia Bahía Sloggett (further west), and Estancia Puerto Rancho (close to the southernmost point of the island, Cabo San Pio
Cabo San Pío
Cabo San Pío at , the southernmost tip of mainland Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego as well as of Argentina, except for the small islet Islote Blanco that lies about 1.5 km off the coast in SW direction .The cape marks the eastern entrance to the Beagle Channel and has a 8 m high light Faro...
) http://www.tiempofueguino.com.ar/main/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=2575.
Some sources also list Bahía Thetis, on the namesake bay five kilometers west of Cabo San Diego, as populated place. There is a lighthouse at Cabo San Diego (Cabo San Diego Light), established in 1934, and another one at Cabo San Pio (Cabo San Pio Light, established in 1919. Both are still in operation.
In the south of the peninsula are the southermost cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s of the world http://www.laventa.it/download/kur/KUR_4.pdf.
Formerly, the area was inhabited by the indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
Haush
Haush
The Haush or Manek'enk were an indigenous people, considered the oldest inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego. They inhabited the Mitre Peninsula, the eastern tip of the island, and made regular hunting trips to Isla de los Estados....
and Selknam
Selknam
The Selk'nam, also known as the Onawo, lived in the Patagonian region of southern Chile and Argentina including the Tierra del Fuego islands...
http://www.centrohipicoushuaia.com.ar/peninsulamitre.htm.
Two roads approach the peninsula from the west, but only the northern one enters it: Road 24CA, from northwest, running along the north coast until Estancia Maria Luisa, followed by a trail until Estancia Policarpo, and Road 24CJ, along the south coast until Estancia Haberton. Both roads are branching east from National Route 3, which runs north-south west of the peninsula. Road 24CJ is the direction of Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
, and 24CA of Río Grande
Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego
-External links:* * * *...
. http://www.alconet.com.ar/pais/mapas/TierraDelFuego.gif
