>>12021718Depends on the side.
On the Argentine side, it's more arid and empty. Huge tracks of rolling hills and plains. Sparsely populated. Sizeable natural gas reserves.
On the Chilean side, it's a maze of fjords, glaciers, and archipelagos. It gets a lot of rain, so it's covered in forest. Even less populated than the Argentine side; most of the region is covered in natural reserves, so it can't be developed anyway.
Both countries look roughtly the same when you get to Tierra del Fuego (the island at the very end). There's just two cities worth mentioning (Ushuaia on the Argentine side, Punta Arenas on the Chilean). Contrary to popular belief, the southernmost city is actually Puerto Williams, not Ushuaia.
Due to an old treaty, Argentina can't get land with a shore on the Pacific, while Chile can't get land with a shore on the Atlantic, so the border looks weird on the eastern end of the Strait of Magellan.
Lots of sheep and Croats in Tierra del Fuego, on either side of the border.
Some people claim there's an island full of aliens down there (Friendship Island). The legendary City of the Caesars was alleged to be there as well (like El Dorado, but even more outlandish). Natives literally swam butt-naked in the freezing waters and hunted sea lions with their bare hands; they also had some Lovecraftian deities. Most natives were wiped out by Irish and Croat hunters, who were paid per-ear by both governments.
The Brits almost seized the region in the XIX century. The fear of that happening is what prompted both Chile and Argentina to hurry and settle it. On the Chilean side, German immigrants clearing the land for farming set of a fire that lasted for almost 2 years.
Legend has it the extremely convoluted shape of the land on the Chilean side is the result of two giant sea-serpents fighting each other.
Overall, it's a great region to visit if you're into ecotourism. Chilean side has better infrastructure, but both have great sites and parks.
