Cordillera Darwin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cordillera Darwin |
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|---|---|
 Location in Southern Patagonia
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mont Shipton |
| Geography | |
| Country | Chile |
| State | Magallanes Region |
| Range coordinates | 54°45′S 69°29′W / 54.75°S 69.48°W |
The Cordillera Darwin is a huge mountain range covered by a thick ice field in Chile. It's a wild and beautiful place, home to some of the tallest mountains in Tierra del Fuego. This range is named after the famous scientist Charles Darwin.
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What is the Cordillera Darwin?
The Cordillera Darwin is found in the southwest part of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. It is completely inside Chile. This mountain range is part of the long Andes mountains. It has the highest peaks in all of Tierra del Fuego. Some mountains here are taller than 2,000 m (6,600 ft) (about 6,500 feet).
Ice and Glaciers
A huge ice field covers the Cordillera Darwin. This ice field is bigger than 2,300 square kilometres (890 sq mi) (about 888 square miles). That's a lot of ice! The range stretches from west to east. It goes from Monte Sarmiento near the Magdalena Channel to the Yendegaia Valley. On its north side is the Almirantazgo Fjord, and to the south is the Beagle Channel.
A Special Park
The Cordillera Darwin is the most important part of Alberto de Agostini National Park. This park protects many amazing glaciers. One well-known glacier is the Marinelli Glacier. Sadly, this glacier has been shrinking for many years, especially since 2008.
First Crossing
In October 2011, a group of French mountaineers made history. They were from the French Army's Groupe Militaire de Haute Montagne. They were the first to cross the entire Cordillera Darwin. Their amazing trip took 29 days. During their journey, they also climbed Mount Darwin, which is the highest peak in the range.
Tallest Mountains in the Range
The Cordillera Darwin has many impressive peaks. Here are some of the most famous ones:
- Monte Darwin
- Monte Sarmiento
- Monte Italia
- Monte Bove
- Monte Roncagli
- Monte Luis de Saboya
- Monte Della Vedova
- Monte Buckland
Images for kids
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Stoppani Glacier in Cordillera Darwin
See also
- Ainsworth Bay, Chile
- Cordillera Darwin Metamorphic Complex
