Skip to main content

Exploring the Patagonian Fjordlands: Wulaia Bay

 

Our final stop before the Australis headed to port in Ushuaia was at historic Wulaia Bay, a pretty spot visited by many navigators over the centuries.

00a Bahia Wulaia

The area around Wulaia Bay has long been settled by man, with archaeological studies showing evidence of human habitation for more than 10,000 years, these being the nomadic Yahgan aboriginal people.  The Yaghan population was strong 150 years ago but today has been largely decimated; less than 2000 individuals remain.

01 Bahia Wulaia

13 Bahia Wulaia
14 Bahia Wulaia

The famous British exploration vessel, HMS Beagle, visited the area twice.  The first time was during her 1826 - 1830 voyage wherein Captain Fitzroy charted many of the channels in the Patagonian fjords, making for safer sailing of the region.  The return journey lasted from 1831 - 1836.  Sir Charles Darwin landed in Wulaia in 1833, during the second voyage to the Beagle, and encountered the Yaghan people here.  Markers of these visits are found on the shores of Wulaia.

08 Bahia Wulaia
10 Bahia Wulaia

10a Bahia Wulaia
Our excursion to Wulaia Bay involved another zodiac journey to another picturesque spot.  Some of the scenes of the Bay were just lovely to taken in!

15 Bahia Wulaia
17 Bahia Wulaia
20 Bahia Wulaia
22 Bahia Wulaia
25 Bahia Wulaia
25b Bahia Wulaia
25d Bahia Wulaia
When we disembarked I walked around part of the bay and ended my visit at a Visitor Center built in a former radio station.  The radio station had been constructed by the Chilean Navy in the early 20th century and functioned until the 1950’s.  

26 Bahia Wulaia
28 Bahia Wulaia
The museum has nice exhibits on the Yaghan people, including of the long facial masks, and of the early Europeans who lived in the region.

35 Bahia Wulaia
36 Bahia Wulaia
37 Bahia Wulaia
38 Bahia Wulaia

40 Bahia Wulaia

The Visitor Center has revived an old mariner tradition, featuring a wooden mail barrel inside.  Per tradition, you drop your letter into the barrel, sort through what's in it and take someone else's letter to the destination your heading to (if that's possible).  Hopefully someone else will take your letter to your destination, and so it goes.

34 Bahia Wulaia
It was a nice stop after a rocky stormy morning and a good way to end our explorations on the Australis.

Attachments

Images (24)
  • Museum at Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Zodiacing to Wulaia Bay
  • Zodiacing to Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Lichens at Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Darwin plaque, Wulaia Bay
  • Visitor Center, Wulaia Bay
  • Visitor Center, Wulaia Bay
  • Wulaia Bay
  • Mail Barrel, Wulaia Bay
  • Traditional masks, Visitor Center, Wulaia Bay
  • Traditional masks, Visitor Center, Wulaia Bay
  • Minature of a canoe, Visitor Center, Wulaia Bay
  • Visitor Center, Wulaia Bay
  • Visitor Center, Wulaia Bay

Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

Add Comment

Comments (1)

Newest · Oldest · Popular
Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×