Chonchi | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 42°37′19″S73°46′27″W / 42.62194°S 73.77417°W | |
Country | Chile |
Region | Los Lagos |
Province | Chiloé |
Founded | 1767 |
Government | |
• Type | Municipality |
• Alcalde | Fernando Oyarzún Macías (RN) |
Area | |
• Total | 1,362.1 km2 (525.9 sq mi) |
Elevation | 26 m (85 ft) |
Population (2012 Census) [2] | |
• Total | 12,959 |
• Density | 9.5/km2 (25/sq mi) |
• Urban | 4,588 |
• Rural | 7,984 |
Sex | |
• Men | 6,453 |
• Women | 6,119 |
Area code | 56 + 65 |
Website | Municipality of Chonchi |
Chonchi is a Chilean town and commune located in Los Lagos Region. The commune consists of the town of Chonchi and the following villages:
According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Chonchi spans an area of 1,362.1 km2 (526 sq mi) and has 12,572 inhabitants (6,453 men and 6,119 women). Of these, 4,588 (36.5%) lived in urban areas and 7,984 (63.5%) in rural areas. The population grew by 18.3% (1,945 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses. [2]
Originally Chonchi was a Jesuit mission station with a school which had 150 pupils in 1755, and the town itself was founded in 1767 by order of Don Guil y Gonzaga, the Governor of Chiloé. [3] In 1787 Chonchi had 315 inhabitants. Unification with Chile increased the economic importance of the region and promoted population growth. The 1833 census in Chonchi demonstrated that it was the most important town in south of the island. It became a parish in 1836, resuming its traditional religious significance within the area. A good anchorage made Chonchi a natural stopping place for traffic in the canals and timber exploitation transformed it into a hub for development of the region. The economic activity centred upon Chonchi reached its zenith at the beginning of the 20th century creating an opulent society with an active social circle. The influence of external ideas (Europeans) is clearly apparent in the town. [4]
The pirate Pedro Ñancúpel was a native of Chonchi, being born in Terao 1837. [5]
The nickname of Chonchi is Ciudad de los Tres Pisos which means "Town of three floors". The ground floor corresponds to the harbour and the marine drive with the picturesque market Feria Artesanal, the second floor consists of the urban architecture around the museum, and the third floor is the main square with the church. [6]
Nearby attractions include Chiloé National Park and several lakes: Huillinco, Tarahuín, Natri and Tepuhueico.
Huillinco, on Lago Huillinco, is a village of 943 inhabitants (2002), most of whom are Huilliche with an interesting cemetery. [8]
Cucao is one of the very few settlements on Chiloé on the west coast. It is a village with 424 inhabitants (2000) at the entrance of Chiloé National Park. [9]
As a commune, Chonchi is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Pedro Andrade Oyarzún (PDC). [1]
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Chonchi is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Gabriel Ascencio (PDC) and Alejandro Santana (RN) as part of the 58th electoral district, together with Castro, Ancud, Quemchi, Dalcahue, Curaco de Vélez, Quinchao, Puqueldón, Queilén, Quellón, Chaitén, Hualaihué, Futaleufú and Palena. The commune is represented in the Senate by Camilo Escalona Medina (PS) and Carlos Kuschel Silva (RN) as part of the 17th senatorial constituency (Los Lagos Region).
Puerto Montt is a port city and commune in southern Chile, located at the northern end of the Reloncaví Sound in the Llanquihue Province, Los Lagos Region, 1,055 km to the south of the capital, Santiago. The commune spans an area of 1,673 km2 (646 sq mi) and has a population of 245,902 in 2017. It is bounded by the communes of Puerto Varas to the north, Cochamó to the east and southeast, Calbuco to the southwest and Maullín and Los Muermos to the west.
Ancud is a city in southern Chile located in the northernmost part of the island and province of Chiloé, in Los Lagos Region. It is the second largest city of Chiloé Archipelago after Castro. The city was established in 1768 to function as the capital of the archipelago and held that position until 1982. Founded as bulwark against foreign powers in colonial times, the city played an important role in the Chilean colonization of Patagonia in the 19th century.
Castro is a city and commune on Chiloé Island in Chile. Castro is the capital of the Chiloé Province in the Los Lagos Region. The city is located on Estero de Castro on the eastern coast of central Chiloé Island. This position provides Castro with a good access to the eastern islands of Chiloé Archipelago as well as to the open ocean through Cucao and Huillinco to the west.
DalcahueSpanish pronunciation:[dalˈkawe] is a port city and a commune in Chiloé Province, on Chiloé Island, Los Lagos Region, Chile.
Quellón is a Chilean port city and commune in Chiloé Province, in southern Chiloé Island, Los Lagos Region. It is one of the southern end-stations of the Panamerican Highway and the Pacific Coast Highway. The city is a hub for aquaculture and fisheries in southern Chiloé and the Guaitecas and Chonos archipelagoes to the south. Various ferry lanes connects Quellón with the Patagonian settlements such as Melinka, Puerto Cisnes and Puerto Chacabuco.
Melinka is a Chilean town in Aysén Province, Aysén Region. It is located on Ascención Island and is the administrative center of the commune of Guaitecas since 1979.
The Chiloé Archipelago is a group of islands lying off the coast of Chile, in the Los Lagos Region. It is separated from mainland Chile by the Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and the Gulf of Corcovado in the southeast. All islands except the Desertores Islands form Chiloé Province. The main island is Chiloé Island. Of roughly rectangular shape, the southwestern half of this island is a wilderness of contiguous forests, wetlands and, in some places, mountains. The landscape of the northeastern sectors of Chiloé Island and the islands to the east is dominated by rolling hills, with a mosaic of pastures, forests and cultivated fields.
Lemuy Island is an island in Chiloé Archipelago, Chile, off the eastern coast of Chiloé Island.
Quemchi is a Chilean town and commune in Los Lagos Region, in Chiloé Province, on the eastern shore of Chiloé Island. It acquired reputation because the famous Chilean writer Francisco Coloane was born near the town.
Calbuco is a city and commune in southern Chile administered by the Municipality of Calbuco. Administratively Calbuco belongs to the Llanquihue Province of Los Lagos Region. The origin of the city was the Spanish Fort Calbuco founded in 1603, and became later an important fish market. The archaeological site of Monte Verde lies within the commune.
Palena is a Chilean commune located in Palena Province, Los Lagos Region. The commune is named after Palena Lake.
Curaco de Vélez is Chilean commune in Chiloé Archipelago which is part of Chiloé Province and Los Lagos Region. The commune is located in western Quinchao Island while the eastern part is administered by the commune of Quinchao.
Puqueldón is Chilean commune in Chiloé Archipelago which is part of Chiloé Province and Los Lagos Region. The commune is located on Lemuy Island and consists of eight villages the biggest of which is Puqueldón. Puqueldón was one of the towns to receive the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations scholarship in 2002.
Queilén is a town and commune in Chiloé Province, in the Archipelago of Chiloé in southern Chile. It covers a portion of the southeast of the Greater Island of Chiloé, between the communes of Chonchi, Quellón, Tranqui Island and Acuy Island. For the 2002 census, the population of the town had grown to 1,912 inhabitants, according to INE; the municipality had a population of 5,138.
Quinchao is a Chilean commune located in Chiloé Province, Los Lagos Region. The seat of government lies in the town of Achao on the island.
Rinconada is a city and commune in the Los Andes Province of central Chile's Valparaíso Region. It was created on 18 January 1897 by Federico Errázuriz Echaurren.
Cartagena is a Chilean commune located in the San Antonio Province, Valparaíso Region. The commune spans an area of 245.9 km2 (95 sq mi).
San Ignacio is a Chilean town and commune located in the Diguillín Province, Ñuble Region. It spans an area of 363.6 km2 (140 sq mi).
The Church of Detif — Spanish: Iglesia de Detif— is a Catholic church located in the town of Detif, commune of Puqueldón, on Lemuy Island, Chiloé Archipelago, southern Chile.
The Church of Vilupulli — Spanish: Iglesia de Vilupulli— is a Catholic church located in the town of Vilupulli, commune of Chonchi, on the Chiloé Archipelago, Los Lagos Region, southern Chile.