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Ushuaia
31st December 2009
Back in Argentina, we spent a few days in Ushuaia, the most southerly city in the world. It was founded as a penal colony and the prison, now a museum, shows the harsh conditions of the past. The old prison steam train (Tren del Fin del Mundo) carries tourists along the valley to the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
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The history of the indigenous people from this area is particularly interesting as they traveled for long periods of time in large bark canoes completely naked rubbing their skin with seal fat to keep warm. In the National Park, large mounds of their shells can still be seen along the coastline.
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The National Park is close to Ushuaia and has many wonderful walking trails. We spent two days there and were lucky enough to spot a red fox and woodpeckers.
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Ushuaia by night

Old steamship rotting in Ushuaia harbour

Old photgraph of a Yamana couple in Ushuaia museum

Yamana girl beside canoe

Midden of shells from the Yamana people

Mural depicting the early prisoners of Ushuaia

View from our campsite in Tierra del Fuego NP

Edible parasite on the tree

A carpet of ground orchids in the forrest

Close up of orchid

Ibis

Lago Roca, looking back from the Chilean border