December 29, 2024
We rounded Cape Horn today. Cape Horn is the southernmost tip of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of Chile. It is where the Pacific Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean. The little lighthouse seen here is the lighthouse actually on Cape Horn.
Cape Horn is located on the rocky Hornos Island. On our approach, we passed by others of the Hermite islands in the archipelago.
Before rounding the horn, we paused to view the Cape Horn Lighthouse manned by the Chilean Navy. Currently the lighthouse keeper is Second Sergeant José Luarte who moved in with his family in 2022. Although, this lighthouse is a mile east/northeast of the actual Cape Horn and its small unmanned lighthouse, this naval station is commonly called the Cape Horn Lighthouse. It is the one that is visited, as the one on Cape Horn itself cannot be easily reached.
Next to the lighthouse, is the Cape Horn Monument that pays tributes to the many sailors who lost their lives trying to navigate the treacherous waters of the Horn. The open space in the middle of the sculpture creates an albatross in flight. Many sailors view the albatross as a symbol of good luck and they used to believe they carried the souls of lost sailors.
Tourists who are lucky enough to land on Hornos Island and visit the lighthouse dock here and climb the steps to the lighthouse.
We then began to sail around Hornos island so we could round Cape Horn.
After rounding Cape Horn, we save several albatross.
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