Which one of the following is located at the southernmost latitude ?

Which one of the following is located at the southernmost latitude ?

South Africa
Australia
Chile
Polynesia
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2017
The correct answer is C) Chile.
To determine which is located at the southernmost latitude, we need to compare the southernmost extent of each option:
– South Africa: The southernmost point of mainland Africa is Cape Agulhas, located at approximately 34°50′ South latitude.
– Australia: The southernmost point of mainland Australia is South Point, Victoria, at approximately 39°08′ South latitude. Tasmania extends further south, with its southernmost point, South East Cape, at approximately 43°38′ South latitude.
– Chile: Chile is a very long country stretching along the Andes. Its southernmost point on the mainland is Águila Islet in the Diego Ramírez Islands, part of the Cape Horn region, at approximately 56°32′ South latitude. Chile also claims territory in Antarctica, extending its reach even further south.
– Polynesia: A large geographic region of Oceania comprising various islands. The main islands of New Zealand, often considered part of Polynesia, extend south to approximately 47° South latitude. Some remote islands might be further south, but none within the core Polynesian triangle reaches the extreme southern latitudes of Chile.
Comparing the southernmost latitudes of the main territories/countries listed, Chile extends significantly further south than South Africa, Australia (including Tasmania), or the main parts of Polynesia (like New Zealand).
Chile’s unique shape, extending for thousands of kilometers north-south along the Pacific coast of South America, gives it access to very high southern latitudes, including islands near Antarctica.