Navarino Island-Chile (WAP CHL-13) is a major scientific hub.
3G9S has been the last Ham radio DX-pedition operating from Navarino Island (WAP CHL-13) from 10 through 17 Jan. 2026
The primary settlement is Puerto Williams, a small city on the northern coast that serves as the administrative capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province. The island hosts multiple specific scientific operations: Subantarctic Center (Centro Subantártico Cabo de Hornos) this modern facility provides space for global scientific researchers to study Subantarctic biodiversity, climate change, and ecology. It is operated in conjunction with the University of Magallanes and the Omora Ethnobotanical Park.
Puerto Williams acts as the staging ground for researchers and navy personnel traveling to Cape Horn and Chilean Antarctic Bases therefore, to all intents and purposes the Logistical Base for Antarctica & Cape Horn.
The primary, physical scientific building on Navarino Island is the Cape Horn Sub-Antarctic Center (known locally as the Centro Subantártico Cabo de Hornos). Located in Puerto Williams, this iconic facility serves as the headquarters for the Cape Horn International Center (CHIC). It is the world’s southernmost climate change research station. Designed by the international firm Ennead Architects, the building’s architecture mimics a “three-canoe” form. This design provides shelter from harsh Sub-Antarctic winds and maximizes solar exposure. The building is split into three integrated pavilions:
Research & Laboratory Pavilion houses biological research labs, specialized equipment, and two residential apartments for visiting global scientists.
Administration & Public Pavilion contains a multi-purpose lecture hall, administrative offices, an exhibition gallery, and a café.
Education Pavilion features classrooms, study spaces, and a library dedicated to sustainable tourism and biocultural conservation. The facility operates as a natural laboratory to track how global climate change affects the Sub-Antarctic ecosystem. It is managed through a collaborative partnership led by the Universidad de Magallanes and several international academic institutions
See more at: https://ennead.com/work/cape-horn/