Coyhaique
Encyclopedia
Coihaique also spelled Coyhaique in Patagonia
, is the capital city of both the Coihaique Province
and the Aysén Region
of Chile
. Founded by settlers in 1929, it is a young city. Until the twentieth century, Chile showed little interest in exploiting the remote Aisén region. The Carretera Austral
road opened in the 1980s.
of the National Statistics Institute
, Coihaique has 50,041 inhabitants (25,453 men and 24,588 women). Of these, 44,850 (89.6%) lived in urban area
s and 5,191 (10.4%) in rural areas. The population grew by 15.6% (6,744 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
, headed by an alcalde
who is directly elected every four years. The 2009-2012 alcalde is Omar Muñoz Sierra (UDI). He was preceded by David Sandoval Plaza (UDI
), who served from 2000 to 2008.
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Coihaique is represented in the Chamber of Deputies
by René Alinco (PDC
) and David Sandoval (UDI) as part of the 59th electoral district, which includes the entire Aisén Region. The commune is represented in the Senate
by Antonio Horvath Kiss (RN
) and Patricio Walker Prieto (PDC) as part of the 18th senatorial constituency (Aisén Region).
The town square is laid out in the shape of a pentagon in honor of the Carabineros, the national police force. A Carabinero general was one of the town's founders.
(near Puerto Aisén, about one hour to the west of Coihaique), and by road. Two border crossings near Coihaique allow entry into Argentina. Fly fishing
is popular along its rivers and lakes.
LAN has three daily flights from Santiago
to Balmaceda Airport
, located 40 km (25 mi) from Coihaique. Other airlines also provide services. Connections from Balmaceda airport to points further south in Chile will often require a connection in Puerto Montt
.
Its sole ski resort, El Fraile, provides two ski lifts and a couple of tracks but no on-site lodging.
Hotspots
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
, is the capital city of both the Coihaique Province
Coihaique Province
Coihaique Province is one of four provinces of the southern Chilean region of Aisen . Its capital city is Coihaique.-Administration:As a province, Coihaique is a second-level administrative division of Chile, which is further divided into two communes , Coihaique and Lago Verde, each governed by a...
and the Aysén Region
Aysen Region
The XI Aisén Region of General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo , also spelled Aysén, is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Although the third largest in area, the region is Chile's most sparsely populated region with a population of 105,000. The capital of the region is Coihaique, the...
of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. Founded by settlers in 1929, it is a young city. Until the twentieth century, Chile showed little interest in exploiting the remote Aisén region. The Carretera Austral
Carretera Austral
The Carretera Austral , formerly known as Carretera General Augusto Pinochet, is the name given to Chile's Route 7. The highway runs about from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins through rural Patagonia....
road opened in the 1980s.
Geography and climate
The commune of Coihaique spans an area of 43297 sqkm. It is surrounded by rivers (Simpson and Coihaique) and by mountains. The mountains may be snow-covered throughout the year, thus Coihaique is sometimes called the city of eternal snow. Temperatures are moderate during the months of November through April. From May until October, temperatures can be comparatively cold and accompanied by the possibility of snowfall.Demographics
According to the 2002 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of the National Statistics Institute
National Statistics Institute (Chile)
The National Statistics Institute of Chile is a state-run organization of the Government of Chile, created in the second half of the 19th century and tasked with performing a general census of population and housing, then collecting, producing and publishing official demographic statistics of...
, Coihaique has 50,041 inhabitants (25,453 men and 24,588 women). Of these, 44,850 (89.6%) lived in urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
s and 5,191 (10.4%) in rural areas. The population grew by 15.6% (6,744 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
Administration
As a commune, Coihaique is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal councilMunicipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
, headed by an alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
who is directly elected every four years. The 2009-2012 alcalde is Omar Muñoz Sierra (UDI). He was preceded by David Sandoval Plaza (UDI
Independent Democrat Union
The Independent Democrat Union is a Chilean right-wing, conservative political party, founded in 1983. Its main inspirer was the lawyer, politician and law professor Jaime Guzmán, a former senator of the Republic of Chile from 1990 until his assassination on April 1, 1991.Its ideological origins...
), who served from 2000 to 2008.
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Coihaique is represented in the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
The Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Chile is the lower house of Chile's bicameral Congress. Its organisation and its powers and duties are defined in articles 42 to 59 of Chile's current constitution....
by René Alinco (PDC
Christian Democratic Party
Christian democratic parties are those political parties that seek to apply Christian principles to public policy. The underlying Christian democracy movement emerged in 19th-century Europe, largely under the influence of Catholic social teaching, and it continues to be influential in Europe and...
) and David Sandoval (UDI) as part of the 59th electoral district, which includes the entire Aisén Region. The commune is represented in the Senate
Senate of Chile
The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.-Composition:...
by Antonio Horvath Kiss (RN
National Renewal (Chile)
National Renewal , is a liberal conservative political party belonging to the Chilean right-wing political coalition Coalition for Change in conjunction with the Independent Democratic Union and the Chile First movement...
) and Patricio Walker Prieto (PDC) as part of the 18th senatorial constituency (Aisén Region).
Society and culture
Transport and tourism
Travelers arrive by a number of means, including by air through the local airport, by sea through ships that dock at Puerto ChacabucoPuerto Chacabuco
Puerto Chacabuco is a Chilean town in Aisén commune. Administratively it belongs to Aisén Province in Aisén Region and is located at the head of Aisén Fjord...
(near Puerto Aisén, about one hour to the west of Coihaique), and by road. Two border crossings near Coihaique allow entry into Argentina. Fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
is popular along its rivers and lakes.
LAN has three daily flights from Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
to Balmaceda Airport
Balmaceda Airport
Balmaceda Airport is an airport in Balmaceda, Chile, serving the Aysen Region.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:On 8 April 1968, Douglas C-49K CC-CBM of LADECO crashed on approach, killing all 36 people on board. The aircraft was operating a domestic scheduled passenger flight...
, located 40 km (25 mi) from Coihaique. Other airlines also provide services. Connections from Balmaceda airport to points further south in Chile will often require a connection in Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt
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. The commune spans an area of and had a population of 175,938 in 2002. It is located 1,055 km to the south of the capital, Santiago...
.
Its sole ski resort, El Fraile, provides two ski lifts and a couple of tracks but no on-site lodging.
Hotspots
- Simpson and Coihaique Rivers, well known for fly fishing
- Piedra del Indio, an Indian-shaped rock besides the Simpson River
- Happy Stone, a large rock in the middle of a plain where people go to party
External links
- Coihaique's city hall website
- Patagonia House, Bed and Breakfast
- Salvaje Corazon, Tour Guides