Linda Sturdevant, age 13, of Danville, I11., for her question:

WHERE IS TIERRA DEL FUEGO?

Tierra del Fuego is the name of a group of islands lying off the southern tip of South America. The name means "Land of Fire." When Ferdinand Magellan named the region in 1520, he had sighted large fires blazing along the shore.

Magellan was trying to find a passage to the Pacific. He discovered that Indians living on the islands usually kept many fires burning to warm themselves. The name seemed right.

The Strait of Magellan separates Tierra del Fuego from the mainland. The largest island, also called Tierra del Fuego, covers almost 20,000 square miles.

Today, Argentina owns the eastern part of Tierra del Fuego island while Chile controls the western part. In 1948, an Italian settlement was made in the Argentine section.

Argentina and Chile also own several of the smaller islands. Chile controls the Strait of Magellan and maintains a naval base on one of the smaller islands.

The Chilean islands end with Horn Island in the south. Cape Horn is at the southern tip of this island.