Visiting the End of the World

The End of the World is an actual, physical place known as Ushuaia.

Located at the tip of South America, this small city of 55,000 is the very last outpost before falling off the earth and into the cold waters leading to the Antarctic.

I had never heard of this place until coming across an article by Patrick J. McDonnell describing how this alluring destination has become even more alluring in the last few years. Tourists are flocking here–to the tune of 250,000 last year–to bask in the novelty that only The End of the World can provide. Those with “I’ve been to Hell (Norway)” t-shirts in their closets can now add an, “I’ve been to the end of the world” to their collection.

In addition to the draw of such novelty, tourists are also heading this far south to use Ushuaia as a starting point for frolicking with penguins and exploring Antarctic icebergs a few hundred miles away.

There are fears, however, that the tourist boom is slowly destroying the uniqueness of this isolated city and the beauty which surrounds it. What else is new!

Looks like I have to add another destination to my short list before it is ruined.