It comprises four provinces: Última Esperanza, Magallanes, Tierra del Fuego, and Antártica Chilena.

Despite its large area, much of the land in the region is rugged or closed off for sheep farming, and is unsuitable for settlement.

80% of the population lives in the capital Punta Arenas, a major market city and one of the main hubs for Antarctic exploration.

Further south there are other mountain ranges such as the Cerro Toro and numerous surface waters including the Seno Última Esperanza, Eberhard Fjord and Lago Grey.

[12] The westernmost islands have a cold, humid and rainy climate, being exposed to strong winds and low temperatures throughout the year.

[11] Precipitation averages 3,500 mm (140 in) per year,[11] while the mean annual temperature on these islands is 9 °C (48.2 °F) with a low thermal amplitude due to the maritime influences and the strong winds.

[12] In the easternmost parts of the region, including much of Tierra del Fuego province, a cold steppe climate prevails.

[13] In the southernmost islands, south of Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of Magellan, a tundra climate prevails.

[12][13] These islands are strongly influenced by the surrounding Pacific Ocean to the west and southwest and the Drake Passage to the south, resulting in constant temperatures throughout the year.

The installation of the cattle ranches attracted people from Europe (mostly Croats, British, Swiss and Italians) and southern Chile (mostly from Chiloé Archipelago), which greatly increased the population of the region.

Scots and Greeks), and descendants of Germans, Dutch, Danes and other Scandinavians, Russians and Portuguese peoples.

From the late 18th century to the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, thousands of trans-oceanic voyages stopped by Punta Arenas as the most convenient strait between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The settlement of Punta Arenas and the Magellan and Chilean Antarctica Region is a result of its historic use as a hub for international travel.

The University of Magellan was established in 1981 during the economic reforms of Chile's military regime as the successor of Universidad Técnica del Estado's Punta Arenas section.