This Is the Southernmost City in the World

By Douglas A. McIntyre Published Jan 14, 1:00PM EST

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This Is the Southernmost City in the World — © encrier / iStock via Getty Images

“South” means warm temperatures to most Americans. This changes when the yardstick includes the southernmost “city” in the world (in reality a town of fewer than 3,000 residents), because it is relatively close to the continent of Antarctica. That town is Puerto Williams, Chile.

To determine the 24 southernmost towns or cities in the world, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a list compiled by Wikipedia.

Antarctica, once by far the coldest on earth, has started to warm. Last year, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), it recorded a new record high temperature of 65º F. (It’s still far colder there on average than in the 22 coldest towns in North America.)

There are no towns in Antarctica, only research stations and scientific bases (the American base at McMurdo Sound, whose population swells to about 1,000 in peak season, is the closest thing to an actual settlement there).

The continent closest to Antarctica is South America, particularly at its southern tip, which includes parts of Argentina and Chile. All the places on our list are in one of those two countries (or in one case the Falkland Islands, part of the United Kingdom, though that’s disputed by Argentina), or in New Zealand far south in the Pacific.

The areas of Argentina and Chile at South America’s southern tip, southwest of the Falkland Islands, have little population, but both have vied for the distinction of being home to the southernmost city in the world. Ushuaia in Argentina, with a latitude of 54º48’S, had long held the spot, but in 2019, Chile took the lead as it named Puerto Williams, still further south at 54º56’S, as a city.

Click here to see the southernmost cities in the world

Puerto Williams was founded as a settlement in 1953 and became a base for the Chilean Navy. Over time, it has become a tourist destination, and home to scientific communities because of its proximity to Antarctica.

For the most part, Puerto Williams posts low daily temperatures throughout almost the entire year. Over 12 months, temperatures usually run between 50º F and 5º F. Global warming could change that substantially over the next few decades.

Because the city is so far south, there are very few hours of daylight from May through July. (Can you answer these real “Jeopardy!” clues about Earth?)

Lago Futalaufquen (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Agus mechi

48. Alto Río Senguer
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 1,454
> GPS coordinates: 45°01’S, 70°49′W

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Queenstown morning (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Pedro Szekely

47. Queenstown
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 15,450
> GPS coordinates: 45°01’S, 168°39′E

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46. Cromwell
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 6,640
> GPS coordinates: 45°04’S, 169°20′E

45. Oamaru
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 13,850
> GPS coordinates: 45°05’S, 170°58′E

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44. Clyde
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 1,250
> GPS coordinates: 45°11’S, 169°19′E

43. Alexandra
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 5,970
> GPS coordinates: 45°14’S, 169°22′E

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42. Puerto Aisen
> Country: Chile
> Population: 16,936
> GPS coordinates: 45°24’S, 72°41′W

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Te Anau (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Guillaume Capron

41. Te Anau
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 2,930
> GPS coordinates: 45°25’S, 167°43′E

Puerto Chacabuco. (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ada sin h

40. Puerto Chacabuco
> Country: Chile
> Population: 1,243
> GPS coordinates: 45°29’S, 72°50′W

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39. Coihaique
> Country: Chile
> Population: 50,041
> GPS coordinates: 45°34’S, 72°04′W

Mt Baldie Tumai Waikouaiti Ot... by Alistair Paterson

Mt Baldie Tumai Waikouaiti Ot... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alistair Paterson

38. Waikouaiti
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 1,270
> GPS coordinates: 45°35’S, 170°40′E

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Castillo de los Sarmiento, en ... by Contando Estrelas

Castillo de los Sarmiento, en ... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Contando Estrelas

37. Sarmiento
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 8,028
> GPS coordinates: 45°35’S, 69°05′W

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36. Río Mayo
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 2,939
> GPS coordinates: 45°40’S, 70°16′W

35. Dunedin
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 105,000
> GPS coordinates: 45°52’S, 170°30′E

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34. Comodoro Rivadavia
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 182,631
> GPS coordinates: 45°52’S, 67°30′W

barrio de Rada Tilly by Emilia Garassino

barrio de Rada Tilly (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Emilia Garassino

33. Rada Tilly
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 6,208
> GPS coordinates: 45°55’S, 67°33′W

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Flemings Creamoata Mill complex Gore New Zealand by Grutness

Flemings Creamoata Mill complex Gore New Zealand (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Grutness

32. Gore
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 8,250
> GPS coordinates: 46°05’S, 168°56′E

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MiltonchurchNZ (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Grutness

31. Milton
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 2,190
> GPS coordinates: 46°07’S, 169°58′E

Winter Landscape in Western Southland by Ingolfson

Winter Landscape in Western Southland (CC0 1.0) by Ingolfson

30. Winton
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 2,450
> GPS coordinates: 46°08’S, 168°20′E

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29. Mataura
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 1,740
> GPS coordinates: 46°11’S, 168°52′E

00 1462 New Zealand (Southland, Fiordland National Park) - Lake Manapouri by W. Bulach

00 1462 New Zealand (Southland, Fiordland National Park) - Lake Manapouri (CC BY-SA 4.0) by W. Bulach

28. Fairfax
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 1,911
> GPS coordinates: 46°12’S, 168°2′E

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Balclutha by itravelNZu00c2u00ae - New Zealand in your pocketu00e2u0084u00a2

Balclutha (CC BY 2.0) by itravelNZu00c2u00ae - New Zealand in your pocketu00e2u0084u00a2

27. Balclutha
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 4,280
> GPS coordinates: 46°14’S, 169°45′E

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Riverton Fishing Boats (CC0 1.0) by Towack

26. Riverton
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 1,690
> GPS coordinates: 46°21’S, 168°01′E

Invercargill, NZ (CC BY 2.0) by Stephen Colebourne

25. Invercargill
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 49,900
> GPS coordinates: 46°25’S, 168°18′E

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24. Caleta Olivia
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 36,077
> GPS coordinates: 46°26’S, 67°32′W

Chile Chico (CC BY 2.0) by Constanza.CH

23. Chile Chico
> Country: Chile
> Population: 3,042
> GPS coordinates: 46°32’S, 71°43′W

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22. Los Antiguos
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 2,047
> GPS coordinates: 46°32’S, 71°37′W

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Parque Las Heras Buenos Aires by K.B.L. Luccia-1.000 pic

Parque Las Heras Buenos Aires (CC BY 2.0) by K.B.L. Luccia-1.000 pic

21. Las Heras
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 10,688
> GPS coordinates: 46°33’S, 68°57′W

Perito Moreno (CC BY 2.0) by Douglas Scortegagna

20. Perito Moreno
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 3,588
> GPS coordinates: 46°36’S, 70°55′W

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Bluff from Stewart Island ferry by AlasdairW

Bluff from Stewart Island ferry (CC BY-SA 3.0) by AlasdairW

19. Bluff
> Country: New Zealand
> Population: 1,840
> GPS coordinates: 46°36’S, 168°20′E

Cu00ba Fitz Roy, Chaltu00e9n - Argentina by Chreownl

Cu00ba Fitz Roy, Chaltu00e9n - Argentina (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Chreownl

18. Pico Truncado
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 14,985
> GPS coordinates: 46°47’S, 67°58′W

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Cochrane (CC BY-SA 2.5) by Jorge Morales Piderit

17. Cochrane
> Country: Chile
> Population: 2,217
> GPS coordinates: 47°15’S, 72°34′W

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Estacion Puerto Deseado by David Stanley

Estacion Puerto Deseado (CC BY 2.0) by David Stanley

16. Puerto Deseado
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 10,237
> GPS coordinates: 47°45’S, 65°55′W

52 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by fpdd!

15. Puerto San Julián
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 6,143
> GPS coordinates: 49°18’S, 67°43′W

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Landschaft von Patagonien by Rolf Hengel

Landschaft von Patagonien (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Rolf Hengel

14. Gobernador Gregores
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 2,519
> GPS coordinates: 49°48’S, 68°37′W

13. Comandante Luis Piedrabuena
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 4,175
> GPS coordinates: 49°50’S, 68°54′W

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Puerto de la Cruz (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Enrico Strocchi

12. Puerto Santa Cruz
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 3,397
> GPS coordinates: 50°01’S, 68°31′W

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Lake Argentino northern arm Lago Argentino Brazo Norte Patagonia Argentina Luca Galuzzi 2005 by Luca Galuzzi

Lake Argentino northern arm Lago Argentino Brazo Norte Patagonia Argentina Luca Galuzzi 2005 (CC BY-SA 2.5) by Luca Galuzzi

11. Río Turbio
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 6,650
> GPS coordinates: 51°31’S, 72°17′W

El Calafate (CC BY 2.0) by Douglas Scortegagna

11. El Calafate
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 6,410
> GPS coordinates: 50°19’S, 72°17′W

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ru00c3u00ado gallegos (CC BY 2.0) by Pablo Ferro

10. Río Gallegos
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 110,435
> GPS coordinates: 51°38’S, 69°13′W

Veintiocho (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Rodarte

9. Veintiocho de Noviembre
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 4,686
> GPS coordinates: 51°39’S, 69°13′W

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8. Stanley
> Country: Falkland Islands
> Population: 2,115
> GPS coordinates: 51°41’S, 57°51′W

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Puerto Natales (CC BY-SA 2.0) by cordyph

7. Puerto Natales
> Country: Chile
> Population: 19,116
> GPS coordinates: 51°44’S, 72°31′W

6. Punta Arenas
> Country: Chile
> Population: 130,136
> GPS coordinates: 53°10’S, 70°56′W

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5. Porvenir
> Country: Chile
> Population: 4,807
> GPS coordinates: 53°17’S, 70°22′W

4. Río Grande
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 55,231
> GPS coordinates: 53°47’S, 67°42′W

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3. Tolhuin
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 3,004
> GPS coordinates: 54°32’S, 67°12′W

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2. Ushuaia
> Country: Argentina
> Population: 56,956
> GPS coordinates: 54°48’S, 68°18′W

1. Puerto Williams
> Country: Chile
> Population: 2,874
> GPS coordinates: 54°56’S, 67°37′W

About the Author Douglas A. McIntyre →

Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.

McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.

His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.

TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.

McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.