Abstract

GARCES FELIU, Eugenio. Tierra del fuego (Chile) and the extreme cultural landscapes. Apuntes [online]. 2009, vol.22, n.1, pp.82-93. ISSN 1657-9763.

This paper analyzes the application of the concept of extreme cultural landscape to the island of Tierra del Fuego (Chile). The analytical perspective is based on the concept of cultural landscape, complemented by the notion of palimpsest, to which is added the notion of extreme for the case of Tierra del Fuego. For these purposes, its extreme natural landscapes are presented; the navigators, travelers and scientists who explored the island and whose testimonials form a corpus of narratives and maps, are mentioned; the aboriginal culture of the Selknam, that settled the island from 11,000 years BC, are described; and the economic colonization, based on the exploitation of natural resources of the island, is analyzed. In Tierra del Fuego, the works of man and nature have been combined, illustrating the different ways in which man occupied this territory and altered its geography and climate with productive purposes, forming extreme cultural landscapes. From these issues arise the management questions and specific challenges that this territory generates. In order to approach them, at least partially, an applied research in relationship with the design of cultural routes for Tierra del Fuego is being developed.

Keywords : Tierra del Fuego; extreme cultural landscapes; palimpsesto; occupation of the territory.

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