Cockburn Channel
Cockburn Channel is a Chilean sea channel at the western entrance of the Strait of Magellan. It separates the Brecknock Peninsula, the western tip of Tierra del Fuego, from Clarence Island and other small Chilean islands. The channel runs about 40 miles (64 km) east from the Pacific Ocean to the Magdalena Channel. It is part of a major waterway that connects the Strait of Magellan to the Beagle Channel, following Magdalena Channel, Cockburn Channel, and then Beagle Channel through the Brednock Pass and Ballenero Channel.
The Cockburn Channel shares its entrance with the Barbara Channel and then travels along the south side of Clarence Island for about 40 miles into Magdalen Sound in the Magellan Strait. For safer navigation, the south shore is often preferred because it is usually more sheltered and has more coves and inlets suitable for anchoring.
Two rocks rise above the water at the entrance: one about 10.5 miles away at a bearing of 168° from Mount Skyring (likely Leon Rock on charts), and another northeast of Tussac Rocks about 7.5 miles away at 171° from Mount Skyring.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:36 (CET).