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Puerto Williams (Spanish for "Port Williams") is a Chilean town, located on Isla Navarino facing the Beagle Channel. It is the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province, one of four provinces located in the Magellan and Chilean Antarctica Region, and administers the communes of Chilean Antarctic Territory and Cabo de Hornos. It has a population of 2,874, including both naval personnel and civilians. Puerto Williams claims the title of world's southernmost city.〔("Diario: Punto Williams" ), ''Clarin'', 30 June 1998〕〔("Puerto Williams: ubicada entre Tierra del Fuego por el norte y el Cabo de Hornos por el sur , por lo tanto es la cuidad mas Austral del país y del mundo" ), Turismo Paliake〕〔(http://www.infinito-sur.com/ ), retrieved 9 April 2012〕〔("Puerto Williams espera una gran temporada de centolla" ), retrieved 9 April 2012〕〔(Escritorio Estudiantes ), retrieved 9 April 2012〕〔(dibam ), retrieved 9 April 2012〕〔(Travel Destinations: Latin America, ''Times Online'' )〕 The settlement was founded in 1953, and was first named ''Puerto Luisa.'' The town was later named for John Williams Wilson, a British man who founded Fuerte Bulnes, the first settlement in the Strait of Magellan since 1587. It has served primarily as a naval base for Chile. The Chilean Navy runs the Guardiamarina Zañartu Airport and hospital, as well as nearby meteorological stations. Since the late 20th century, the number of navy personnel have decreased in Puerto Williams and the civilian population has increased. In that period, tourism and support of scientific research have contributed to an increase in economic activity. The port attracts tourists going to Cape Horn or Antarctica; its tourism industry developed around the concept of "the world's most southern city". Puerto Williams is port of entry and major hub for scientific activity linked to Antarctica and the islands south of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. The University of Magallanes has a university centre in Puerto Williams. Weather stations and lighthouses at Cape Horn and Diego Ramírez Islands are supplied from Puerto Williams. The city has been a base for Chile to assert sovereignty around Cape Horn and support its Antarctic bases. Puerto Williams also serves as provision and service centre for fishermen. The Navy is based here in part to enforce national fishing rights in the Exclusive economic zone around the southern part of Tierra del Fuego, where lucrative ''lithodes santolla'' fishing is an important industry. ==History== The Yahgan people, indigenous to southern Chile, are believed to have migrated to this area more than 10,000 years ago and established their traditional hunter-gatherer culture. Europeans first came across them and the area in the early sixteenth century. It was not until the 19th century that Europeans began to be interested in the area for development; its towns had sometimes supplied whaling ships. At the end of the 19th century, gold was discovered in the region, attracting masses of migrants and immigrants seeking fortunes. By 1890 there were approximately 300 goldminers in the Picton, Lennox and Nueva islands and Puerto Toro which was founded in 1892.〔Gastón Droguett Valdivia, (Historia de Puerto Williams, Capital de la Provincia Antártica Chilena ), retrieved on 13 April 2012〕 Puerto Navarino, on the west side of the Navarino island, was founded in June 1938. In addition, some of the islands were developed to support sheep ranching, and meat and wool exports became important. Puerto Williams was founded 1953, developed primarily as a naval base for Chile. Its naval hospital of 463 m2 (today 638 m2) opened in 1960.〔(Historia Hospital Naval de Puerto Williams ), retrieved on 13 April 2012〕 In 2002 the electrical power supply was transferred from the Chilean Navy to a private provider.〔("1897 La luz llega a Magallanes" ), Edelmag, 〕 According to the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina, Puerto Williams is the start point for vessels of all nations in traffic between the Straits of Magellan and Argentine ports in the Beagle Channel. Based on some definitions of what a city is, Puerto Williams could be the southernmost city in the world. (Others dispute calling it a "city" because of its small size and population. Chilean and Argentinian media, a bilateral agreement between Chile and Argentina, and the Puerto Williams administration identify it as the southernmost city in the world.〔〔〔http://edant.clarin.com/diario/1998/06/30/e-04801d.htm〕〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Puerto Williams」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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