When you think of the southernmost city in the world, most people would probably picture Ushuaia. This Argentine port town is where almost all Antarctic trips start. Surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains and the Beagle Channel, it is truly a magical place. It is also the administrative capital of Tierra del Fuego province, an industrial center, a tourist hub and a major natural attraction. There are many things to do here including wildlife attractions, touring the Tierra del Fuego National Park, taking a ride on the Train to the End of the World and visiting museums.

However, there is another settlement in the same region that is closer to Antarctica and actually has more residents: Puerto Williams, Chile. With a latitude of 54°48’S, it is technically the southernmost city in the world. However, it is not as big as Ushuaia, so most people would probably still regard Ushuaia as the southernmost city.

Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how close these two cities are to Antarctica. They are both located on Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, which is shared between Argentina and Chile.

Besides these two towns, there are several other settlements south of 45°S, such as the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, which is a research base that has a year round population of researchers and military personnel. The rest of the settlements are towns or cities in South America, and some in New Zealand. Those settlements that have a population that exceeds 1,000 are listed here as cities or towns, while those that have a more modest number of residents are listed as villages or hamlets.