The Chilean Antarctic Territory is a part of Antarctica claimed by Chile. The area is administered by the municipality of Antarctica and is administratively part of the southernmost province of Chile, the province “Antartica Chilena”, on the Strait of Magellan.
The municipality of Antartica is the only one in Chile that does not include an independent municipality and is therefore administered by the municipality of Cape Horn.
The Chilean territory extends from 53 to 90 degrees west longitude.
The area of the territory claimed by the state of Chile, including the Antarctic Peninsula around 1,000 kilometers off Cape Horn, is also part of the Argentine and British Antarctic Territories.
Chile operates several beacons in this territory as well as several post offices in the Punta Arenas postal district.
The Chilean Air Force also has a major base on the island of Rey Jorge.
The Chilean government maintains various research stations at several locations in Antarctica, including King George Island, Ardley Island, Robert Island, Greenwich island, Livingston Island, Deception Island, the Trinity Peninsula, Duse Bay, in Hughes Bay, Paradise Harbor, Doumer Island, Adelaide Island, Avian Island, Union Glacier and Patriots Hills.
In January 2018, I visited Paradise Harbor, in the breathtaking Paradise Bay, during my cruise on the “Celebrity Infinity”. That was certainly one of the most unforgettable moments in my entire travel life so far.
This unique landscape, the many light blue glaciers, the huge floating icebergs, the countless jumping whales and penguins as well as a breathtaking 360 degree panoramic view, the perspective of which was permanently changed by the different sunlight, left me wondering and amazed for several hours.
It was truly an incredible moment, sunny and quite pleasant at 0 degrees Celsius in mid-summer in Antarctica.
This day in the fairytale Paradise Bay was guaranteed to be one of the most beautiful moments of my entire travel career.
I will never forget this unique experience in my entire life.
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