Villa Las Estrellas Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
settlement owned by Chile in Antarctica
About Villa Las Estrellas
King George Island (named for Britain's King George III) is known by Argentina asIsla 25 de Mayo, by Chile asIsla Rey Jorgeand by Russia asVaterloo(Ватерло́о). The island is 95 km long but the town, airfield and bases are concentrated on its western Fildes Peninsula, which is ice-free. As well as making it easier to construct facilities, the peninsula's unusual habitat is of scientific interest, as there's tundra vegetation, and fossils and other rocks can be seen which are inaccessible under ice elsewhere. The town's description as "civilian" is contentious, as it implies that everything else nearby is military, which is forbidden under the Antarctic Treaty. So too is the term "Chilean": that country owns, staffs and manages various assets here, and applies its own laws to them, but under
Top Attractions in Villa Las Estrellas
Explore the best things to see and do in Villa Las Estrellas:
- ★Chapel of St Mary Queen of Peace
- ★Holy Trinity Church
Villa Las Estrellas Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: