Río Grande, Argentina

Capital City

This industrial hub on the edge of Tierra del Fuego is no vacation destination. With a population of just 52,681, Río Grande is a gritty manufacturing town where the tax burden is heavy but wages are higher than elsewhere in Argentina. The climate is a relentless challenge, with temperatures plummeting below freezing for months and summer days that are perpetually windy and cloudy. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the 2014 incident where a mob of 300 vehicles blocked the escape of a BBC film crew. Despite the difficulties, Río Grande may appeal to those seeking economic opportunity in Argentina's southernmost reaches.