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The Isthmus of Ofqui is a narrow isthmus that connects the Taitao Peninsula with the Chilean mainland. The isthmus is bounded in the south by the Gulf of Penas, in the north by the San Rafael Lagoon, in the west by the Taitao Peninsula and in the east by the Northern Patagonia Ice Field.
Contents
- Map of Istmo de Ofqui AysC3A9n XI RegiC3B3n Chile
- The Isthmus of Ofqui canal construction project
- References
Map of Istmo de Ofqui, Ays%C3%A9n, XI Regi%C3%B3n, Chile
Geologically it is considered the southern end of the Chilean Central Valley, and the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault. The Isthmus of Ofqui lies close to the Chile Triple Junction where the Nazca Plate, the South American Plate, and the Antarctic Plate meets.
The Isthmus of Ofqui canal construction project
In 1937 the Chilean Government ordered the construction of a canal through the isthmus in order to open a direct passage from the Moraleda Channel to the Messier Channel and avoid going out into the open Pacific Ocean to get around the Taitao Peninsula:
- a 2,200 m long, 17 m wide, 5 m depth Canal between the Laguna San Rafael and the Negro River to connect then the
- Negro River (25 km).
The work began in 1937 under the management of the railways department of the Ministry of Public Works. Work continued until May 1943 when funds ran out.