Blowing up the Glacier: Attempts to Open a Canal in Southern Chile,1910s–40s

In 1938, the Chilean government began the ambitious work of opening the Ofqui Isthmus, which connects the Taitao Peninsula in the channels of southern Chile with the American continent. For centuries, this 24-mile stretch of land had forced sailors to circumnavigate the peninsula, a time-consuming endeavor away from the sheltered waters of the Chilean channels. Against the backdrop of the opening of the Suez and Panama Canals, Ofqui did not seem an impossible task. However, it was quickly abandoned when a crane fell into the ocean.

This paper examines the moments leading up to the breaking ground at Ofqui, with special attention at how authorities, engineers, and scientists formulated the feasibility of opening a canal in southern Chile. What moved legislators to discuss the need for a canal? How were resources allocated to gather data? Who participated in these expeditions? By examining Congress minutes, published reports, and state correspondence, this paper goes to the heart of how infrastructure projects are conceived and executed. Additionally, it interrogates to what extent ideas about the environment might have shifted, the new technology might have become available, and which interests might have allowed for a resolute start of a project.