History
See also: Tierra del Fuego Gold RushThe Yahgan people were the first inhabitants of the region that became known to Europeans in the early sixteenth century, but it was not until the 19th century that Europeans started to be interested in the zone and its peoples. In 1890 there were approximately 300 goldminers in the Picton, Lennox and Nueva islands and Puerto Toro which was founded in 1892. Puerto Navarino, on the west side of the Navarino island, was founded in June 1938. Puerto Williams itself was founded 1953 and its naval hospital was inaugurated in 1960 with 463 m2 (today 638 m2). In 2002 the electrical power supply was transferred from the Chilean Navy to a private provide.
According to the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina Puerto Williams is the start point for vessels of all nations in traffic between the Straits of Magellan and Argentine ports in the Beagle Channel.
Read more about this topic: Puerto Williams
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