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Chile's Route 7, the Carretera Austral, leads into the magnificent Patagonian wilderness, a territory that German expatriates also chose as their new home. For decades, the Carretera Austral has been winding its way through the impassable wilderness from the north to the south of Patagonia. People who had previously lived in isolation were suddenly connected to modern cities - with uncertain consequences. The Carretera Austral is said to link central Chile with its southern tip. By land, it could only be reached via Argentina. In Chile, the road was blocked by rugged mountains, primeval forests, wide fjords, volcanoes and a huge ice field. In the 1960s, military dictator Augusto Pinochet made the construction of this road a national priority. Under his command, up to 10,000 construction soldiers worked in the most adverse conditions. One of the last surviving members of Pinochet's military junta, Rodolfo Stange, former head of the Chilean Carabineros, talks about the importance of the road for the regime. German marine biologist Vreni Häussermann reports on a catastrophe in one of the Patagonian fjords. This event in particular shows how strongly the economic expansion brought about by the road affects the nature of southern Chile. The journey also leads to the descendants of German expatriates who found a new home in far-off Patagonia after the First World War. The stories of these and other people give insight into the history and present of this unique region. -------- DW Documentary provides you with information beyond the headlines. Marvel at the best documentaries from German channels and international production companies. Meet enigmatic people, travel to far-off territories and understand the complexities of modern life - always close to global events and current affairs. Subscribe to DW Documentary and discover the world around you every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to DW Documentary: /dwdocumental Our other YouTube channels: DW Documentary (in English): /dwdocumentary DW Documentary Arabic: /dwdocarabia For more information, please visit: http://www.dw.com/zonadocu http://www.dw.com/primerplano http://www.dw.com/español Instagram (in English): /dwdocumentary Facebook (in English): /dw.stories DW Netiquette: http://p.dw.com/p/14KkY