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| Another September 11
- the day the world changed for Chile |
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| The Mountains of Patagonia |
During the fourth glacial period around 2 million years ago, the present
Patagonian region was covered with glaciers. Glacial erosion is responsible
for shaping the stunning pointed peaks of the Paine Mountain range
and the wild, barren mountains of Tierra del Fuego. To see these mountains
bathed in a red and purple haze during one of the region's spectacular
sunsets almost creates an illusion of fire - hence the name 'Land
of Fire'.
The route Peace Boat takes from Cape Horn through the fjords to Pulluche
Bay on the Chilean West Coast offers some of the most magnificent
views seen anywhere in the world. |
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| Sunset in Tierra del Fuego |
After leaving Ushuaia, the southern most Town in the world, we sailed
along the Beagle and Gabriel channels taking in the otherworldly views
of silent, blue glaciers with their numerous waterfalls steeped in
early morning mist. Stopping off in Eyre Fjord we took to the tender
boats, cruised around the floating ice and motored right up to the
steep icy wall of the vast Pio XI Glacier.
The following night we dropped anchor to wait for the tide to turn
so that we could pass through the 'English Narrow', which at its narrowest
point is less than 100 meters wide and flanked on both sides by green
mountains.
The contrast of these mountains and the blue sea, topped up by the
dazzling changes in light brought on by the racing clouds, is pure
poetry for the soul.
Apart from the beautiful scenery the one thing that is so striking
about this place is the extreme remoteness and emptiness in terms
of human settlement. However, here nature holds such an abundance
of bird and marine life - amongst it petrels, penguins and even dolphins
- and an almost mystic sense of ancient peace. |
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| Ushaia-Papeete
/ Peace Boat's 36th Voyage |
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PEACE BOAT is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
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