Thematic Outreach Atlas for Navarino Island and Surroundings

ERNESTO DAVIS; SILVIA MURCIA; CHRISTOPHER B. ANDERSON

Universidad de Magallanes

Lugar: Punta Arenas; Año: 2013 p. 101

978-956-353-500-6

The book that you have in your hands is the result of the joint work by several researchers who, through their respective studies in the austral environments, have developed not only a great deal of knowledge about these territories, but also have forged friendships and professional relationships surrounded by the inspiring natural scenery of this beautiful country. Because of these precious experiences in direct contact with the natural surroundings and the people living in this corner of the planet, there arose a desire to publish a book that tries to synthesize the complexities of this fragmented and isolated archipelago at the southernmost tip of Patagonia, using a highly interdisciplinary perspective. The final product is this atlas comprising four chapters. The first is a brief description of the geography and geomorphology of the area, in which the reader will learn of the physical and political-administrative context of the study area: mainly the Commune of Cape Horn and its capital, Puerto Williams. Also, this chapter concisely explains the main climatic variables of the region and the geomorphological processes that currently make up the described territory. The second chapter covers the area?s ecology, following the two main biophysical axes that affect life in this southern tip of the American continent: i) the altitudinal gradient, ranging from the high-Andean ecosystems to those in the sub-marine zone, and ii) the longitudinal gradient from west to east, which correlates with a marked precipitation gradient. In this chapter, we see how both shape and influence the major biomes and communities of living organisms that make up these sub-Antarctic environments. We then invite contributors to describe some of the work done in the Omora Ethnobotanical Park, a center for interdisciplinary research for the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. The third chapter of this book addresses the historical-anthropological dimension of the human population that has inhabited the archipelago. Through this essay, which runs from the original human settlements, to the first European expeditions and Western colonization, to the present day, the reader can grasp important social processes and some renowned events that have marked not only the history, but that also help explain today?s Commune of Cape Horn. The fourth chapter reveals some of the scenic attractions observed when moving through these sub-Antarctic environments, among which we find the imposing glaciers and rock formations of the Darwin Mountain Range and the mountain chain known as the Dientes (or ?Teeth?) of Navarino. Guided by maps, we show where the main observable glaciers of the Northwest Arm of the Beagle Channel are geographically identified so you can orient yourself and gain a better understanding of the intricate landscape these unique scenic attractions occupy. We hope that this topical atlas will contribute to understanding the history, culture, ecology and geography of this austral territory. Also, we hope that this atlas sparks the reader?s interest to know and discover this corner of the world, inviting him or her to a personal reflection on how we relate to the environment and its inhabitants.