Why the title of southernmost city in the world is a marketing invention

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The race for the world's southernmost city is less about geography and more about tourism. While three different locations in Chile and Argentina claim the title, none hold a formal legal designation as a city. The true southernmost town is actually a small naval base on the Beagle Channel.

The competition for the southernmost city is a modern branding exercise. In Chile and Argentina, the term city is not a formal legal status, with the sole exception of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Consequently, three locations—Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, and Puerto Williams—compete for the title to attract visitors and those traveling toward Antarctica. Each base has a different justification for its claim, often relying on population size, infrastructure, or simply media recognition.

Punta Arenas, located at 53°10′S, is the largest of the three, housing around 130,000 residents. Its argument for the title rests entirely on its scale compared to its rivals. Ushuaia, situated at 54°48′S, is more widely accepted as the southernmost city due to its established infrastructure and significant population of 82,615. However, it sits on the northern shore of the Beagle Channel, placing it geographically north of Puerto Williams.

Puerto Williams, at 54°56′S, is the absolute southernmost town. Located on Isla Navarino, it serves as a naval base for the Chilean Navy and hosts facilities including a university campus, a museum, and a hospital. While some international media outlets occasionally label it a city, the town itself promotes the more accurate slogan of being the southernmost town in the world. Beyond these, the Antarctic continent hosts numerous research stations, such as McMurdo Station, which supports an average population of 1,200, though these are distinct from the permanent settlements found in Patagonia.

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