Cape Virgenes (Spanish: Cabo Vírgenes, lit. 'Cape Virgins') is the southeastern promontory of continental Argentina in South America. A little to the south-west,the southernmost point of land is Punta Dúngeness. Ferdinand Magellan reached it on 21 October 1520 during the Spanish expedition to East Asia and discovered a strait, now called the Strait of Magellan in his honor. As 21 October was the feast day of Saint Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins, he named the cape in their honor.[1]
Its location is the southern 52nd parallel and is an approximate antipode to Amsterdam (located at the 52nd parallel of the northern hemisphere).
The Cape is located in Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina. The Cape Virgenes Argentine Lighthouse has been operating since 1904. In 1884, gold was found there sparking the Tierra del Fuego gold rush.[2] Recently, rises in the number of southern right whales visiting the area have been confirmed.[3][4]
- ^ Morison, Samuel (1974). The European Discovery of America: The Southern Voyages, 1492-1616. New York: Oxford University Press.
- ^ Martinic Beros, Mateo. Crónica de las Tierras del Canal Beagle. 1973. Editorial Francisco de Aguirre S.A. Pp. 55-65
- ^ The Fundación Cethus. 2014. Realizamos nuestra 5° campaña en Cabo Vírgenes, Santa Cruz Archived 2014-12-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on December 16. 2014
- ^ The Fundación Cethus. 2011. Cuarta campaña para el estudio de la Ballena franca austral en Cabo Vírgenes Archived 2020-08-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on December 16. 2014