The Great Austral Loop

Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, is located on the Beagle Channel, where soaring mountains, ice-blue glaciers, and an historic lighthouse create an ideal backdrop. The capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, it was first settled by British missionaries. During the first half of the 20th C the major building of the city was a prison, built by the Argentinian government for repeat offenders and serious criminals, as the subpolar oceanic climate made escape difficult. Read more about Ushuaia, Argentina

Port Stanley is the capital and only town in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope, south of Stanley Harbour, in one of the wettest parts of the islands. It is very easy to see most of the islands’ worthwhile sites on a short walking tour. Read more about Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Saunders Island, NW of West Falkland, is still run as a sheep farm. Saunders Island Settlement, with one listed building known as Stone House, lies on the east coast. There are varied habitats, including wetland and permanent lakes, areas of dune formations and extensive steep cliff slopes. Read more about Saunders Island, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Port Stanley is the capital and only town in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope, south of Stanley Harbour, in one of the wettest parts of the islands. It is very easy to see most of the islands’ worthwhile sites on a short walking tour. Read more about Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Read more about South Georgia, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Read more about South Georgia, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Read more about South Georgia, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Drake Passage is the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. Named after the sixteenth century English explorer Sir Francis Drake, although he never actually sailed the passage, it connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and is the shortest crossing from Antarctica to the rest of the world’s land, about 860 km. Conditions can change instantly in the Drake Passage, owing to strong winds, large waves, strong currents, and icebergs: hence notorious as ‘sailors’ graveyard.’ Until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 large ships had to sail this passage. Read more about Drake Passage, Antarctica

Drake Passage is the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. Named after the sixteenth century English explorer Sir Francis Drake, although he never actually sailed the passage, it connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and is the shortest crossing from Antarctica to the rest of the world’s land, about 860 km. Conditions can change instantly in the Drake Passage, owing to strong winds, large waves, strong currents, and icebergs: hence notorious as ‘sailors’ graveyard.’ Until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 large ships had to sail this passage. Read more about Drake Passage, Antarctica

Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, is located on the Beagle Channel, where soaring mountains, ice-blue glaciers, and an historic lighthouse create an ideal backdrop. The capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, it was first settled by British missionaries. During the first half of the 20th C the major building of the city was a prison, built by the Argentinian government for repeat offenders and serious criminals, as the subpolar oceanic climate made escape difficult. Read more about Ushuaia, Argentina