The region of Magallanes and Antarctica Chileana totals 132,297.2 km2 and includes most of the Chilean Patagonia and the only part of Chile with access to the Atlantic Ocean. A mere 150,826 populate the territory, with Punta Arenas serving as the regional capital. The unique geography of this region is marked by the peculiar fact that here the Andes Mountain Range actually overhangs, then falls abruptly into the Pacific Ocean amidst countless rugged fjords, disappearing completely into the Strait of Magellan. The overwhelming presence of the ocean, the rugged topography and the ever-present high winds define the regional landscape. The region’s economy centers around sheep ranching, the oil and natural gas industry, forestry, and marine products. The region has a standalone thermoelectric power grid running on locally available natural gasresources. Port services provide infrastructure for ocean-going vessel supply. Leading export products include fisheries, forestry, agriculture, livestock, and methanol energy. Tourism is a thriving industry in this region, known worldwide for its friendly people and awe-inspiring sceneries. Tens ofthousands of tourists each year come from all over the world for ecotourism, fly-fishing, exploring national parks, cruises, wildlife observation, and adventure travel. The open ocean surrounding Antarctica harbors vast populations of penguins, seals, albatrosses, dolphins, whales and colonies of coastal and marine birds.