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Santiago Province (Chile)
Encyclopedia
Santiago Province is one of the six provinces
of the Santiago Metropolitan Region
(RM) of central Chile
. It encompasses the majority of the population of that region, including 31 of the 36 communities of Greater Santiago. The province spans 2030.3 km (1,262 mi).
of Chile. Unlike all other provinces of Chile
, which are governed by a provincial governor
appointed by the president
, the duties of provincial governor are instead carried out by the intendant
of the Santiago Metropolitan Region
who is also appointed by the president. In January 2001, the Provincial Delegation of Santiago was created via a Provincial Delegate, who exercises the functions of a provincial governor on behalf of the intendant.
: comunas), each governed by a municipality consisting of an alcalde
and municipal council
.
The climate of the Santiago Province, and generally of the Metropolitan Region is temperate Mediterranean cold, of the kind called continental. Precipitation is concentrated in the winter months, generally as snow over 1000 m above sea level and, in colder years, over the city of Santiago. Winter tends to be cold with frequent frosts during which temperature drops below 0 °C. The summer months are usually dry and hot. The Cordillera de la Costa
acts as a climate screen and reduces marine influence, which makes the climate more continental. This situation becomes apparent when comparing precipitation from a coastal location such as Valparaíso
(460 mm) with that of Santiago de Chile (360 mm).
The annual median precipitation reaches 367 mm on average. The annual median temperature comes out to 13.5 °C, with a median high of 21 °C and a median low of 6 °C.
Most of the province is made up of an extremely fertile, level prairie that the locals call la Depresión intermedia (Intermediate Depression). The terrain is known for its low elevation in relation to sea level and for being surrounded by hills, as well as emergent so-called island hills, such as Santa Lucía
(an ancient extinct volcano), Blanco, and Renca, present today in the city of Santiago
.
There is some occurrence of the endangered Chilean Wine Palm, Jubaea chilensis within the Santiago Province; this iconic tree of central Chile had a much larger range prehistorically, before the decimation of much of its habitat by the expanding human population
.
was sparsely inhabited by an indigenous population of Picunche
s, the northern branch of the Mapuche
s. The Europe
an occupation had a considerable impact on the native population and culture, which suffered a rapid and profound disintegration. Chief among the reasons was the Spanish Crown's granting of gifts of land to its colonists. In addition, the institution of a system of encomienda
s, only abolished by the end of the 18th century, had irreversible consequences. It represented first the appropriation of indigenous ground, and second the practice of Spaniards receiving groups of natives who had to pay tribute. Over time, in the Province, as in the whole country, cultural identity became predominantly European in character, with minor hints of native character, thus setting in motion a process of homogenization of the population.
of 2002, Santiago Province has 4,668,473 inhabitants, of whom 2,244,497 are male and 2,423,976 female, meaning that the number of males is 92.6% that of females. The population density
is the highest in Chile, with 2,999.4 inhabitants/km²; the most densely populated comuna is that of Lo Prado
and the most populous is La Florida, a suburb of the capital. In 2002, there were 4,658,687 persons living in urban area
s and 9,786 persons living in rural areas, classifying 99.79% of the population as urban. The annual population growth rate is calculated for 2005 as 0.9%. Life expectancy
is exactly the Chilean national average, which is the highest national life expectancy in Latin America
: 80 years on average, 78 for men and 82 for women. The area has an average household income of $29,062 in PPP
US dollars (2000).
The population tends be concentrated evenly between the heart of the city and the suburbs, due to government promotion of populating urban centers in high-rise buildings by offering state subsidies, thereby avoiding the progressive extension of Greater Santiago.
hi
province stands out for its industrial predominance, but most of all, for its service sector. Industry is widely diverse and along with Valparaíso
and Biobío
regions, it is one of the country's three industrial pillars. Machinery and electronic equipment, leather, food processing, chemical and metallurgical industry are Santiago Province's most important industries. The predominance of the service sector can be explained by the activity from the following industries, among others: electricity
, gas
, water
, construction, commerce, transportation and communication, financial services, housing, education, health, and public administration.
, the network of roads is one of the most important elements in the Province's transportation system. The principal north-south routes are:
falls at the intersection with the Alameda del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins
. The highway, nicknamed "Norte-Sur" ("North-South"), consists of quality pavement and two- and three-lane roads.
and summer resorts and beaches in the fifth region of Valparaíso. In addition, it connects the towns of Casablanca
and Curacaví
. The toll highway, consisting of two- and three-lane sections of well-maintained pavement, extends for 115 kilometers.
, Cartagena
, El Quisco
and Algarrobo
, as well as connecting to the more central Melipilla
, Talagante
, El Monte, Padre Hurtado
and Peñaflor
. Route 78 extends 110 kilometers.
.
with Cajón del Maipo
. It extends roughly 70 km to its termination in the town of El Volcán.
The main highways in Santiago province are:
The province's railroads are a vital form of daily mass transit. They are operated by the state agency EFE
. It provides a continuous railroad between the cities of Valparaíso
in Valparaíso
and Puerto Montt
in Los Lagos
. The trains of Metrotrén
connect the outlying suburbs with the capital. Another important mode of transportation in the city is the Santiago Metro
, a subway system. The five train lines carry an average of one million people daily, making the metro one of the leading means of transportation in the entire country. In one year, the metro services over 360 million people. Both the metro and the railroad system are considered the most modern in Latin America
. The Transantiago
bus system is also important.
Provinces of Chile
A province is the second largest administrative division in Chile, after a region. Each region is divided into provinces. There are 54 provinces in total....
of the Santiago Metropolitan Region
Santiago Metropolitan Region
Santiago Metropolitan Region or simply Metropolitan Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is the country's only landlocked administrative region and contains the nation's capital, Santiago...
(RM) of central 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...
. It encompasses the majority of the population of that region, including 31 of the 36 communities of Greater Santiago. The province spans 2030.3 km (1,262 mi).
Administration
As a province, Santiago is a second-level administrative divisionAdministrative divisions of Chile
The administrative division or territorial organization of Chile exemplifies characteristics of a unitary state. State administration is functionally and geographically decentralized, as appropriate for each authority in accordance with the law....
of Chile. Unlike all other provinces of Chile
Provinces of Chile
A province is the second largest administrative division in Chile, after a region. Each region is divided into provinces. There are 54 provinces in total....
, which are governed by a provincial governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
appointed by the president
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
, the duties of provincial governor are instead carried out by the intendant
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
of the Santiago Metropolitan Region
Santiago Metropolitan Region
Santiago Metropolitan Region or simply Metropolitan Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is the country's only landlocked administrative region and contains the nation's capital, Santiago...
who is also appointed by the president. In January 2001, the Provincial Delegation of Santiago was created via a Provincial Delegate, who exercises the functions of a provincial governor on behalf of the intendant.
Communes
The province comprises 32 communes (SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: comunas), each governed by a municipality consisting of 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...
and municipal council
Municipal 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...
.
| Commune | Area (km2) | 2002 population |
Pop. density (km2) | Municipality website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago Santiago (commune) The Commune of Santiago is the capital city of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, located at the center of the Santiago Province in Chile's Central Zone. Locally, Santiago is usually abbreviated Stgo. It is also called as "Santiago Centro" .-History:The city of Santiago was founded on February 12,... (Capital) |
22.4 | 200,792 | 8,963.9 | link |
| Vitacura Vitacura Vitacura is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is one of the most expensive and fashionable areas of Santiago... |
28.3 | 81,499 | 2,879.8 | link |
| San Ramón | 6.5 | 94,906 | 14,600.9 | link |
| San Miguel | 9.5 | 78,872 | 8,302.3 | link |
| San Joaquín | 9.7 | 97,625 | 10,064.4 | link |
| Renca Renca Renca is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It was founded on May 6, 1894.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Renca spans an area of and has 133,518 inhabitants , making the commune an entirely urban area... |
24.2 | 133,518 | 5,517.3 | link |
| Recoleta | 16.2 | 148,220 | 9,149.4 | link |
| Quinta Normal Quinta Normal Quinta Normal is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is named after a large park in the area.-Demographics:... |
12.4 | 104,012 | 8,388.1 | link |
| Quilicura Quilicura Quilicura founded in 1902, is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is a satellite city on what was originally the outskirts of the city of Santiago, but as urban sprawl has set in it is now quickly urbanizing from what was recently prime agricultural land... |
57.5 | 126,518 | 2,200.3 | link |
| Pudahuel Pudahuel Pudahuel is a census-designated commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. Santiago's international airport Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez is located there... |
197.4 | 195,653 | 991.1 | link |
| Providencia Providencia, Chile Providencia is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. Part of Greater Santiago, it is bordered by the communes of Santiago to the west, Recoleta to the northwest, Las Condes and Vitacura to the northeast, La Reina to the east, and Ñuñoa to the south.In 2006... |
14.4 | 120,874 | 8,394.0 | link |
| Peñalolén Peñalolén Peñalolén is a Chilean commune in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It was founded on November 15, 1984.-Demographics:... |
54.2 | 216,060 | 3,986.3 | link |
| Pedro Aguirre Cerda | 9.7 | 114,560 | 11,810.3 | link |
| Ñuñoa Ñuñoa Ñuñoa is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. Its inhabitants are primarily a middle and upper-middle class.... |
16.9 | 163,511 | 9,675.2 | link |
| Maipú | 133.0 | 468,390 | 3,521.7 | link |
| Macul Macul Macul is a commune of Chile located in the central-eastern part of Greater Santiago, bordered by the communes of Ñuñoa to the north, San Joaquín to the west, Peñalolén to the east and La Florida to the south.... |
12.9 | 112,535 | 8,723.6 | link |
| Lo Prado Lo Prado Lo Prado is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Lo Prado spans an area of and has 104,316 inhabitants , making the commune an entirely urban area... |
6.7 | 104,316 | 15,569.6 | link |
| Lo Espejo Lo Espejo Lo Espejo is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It has the country's largest population density.-Demographics:... |
7.2 | 112,800 | 15,666.7 | link |
| Lo Barnechea Lo Barnechea Lo Barnechea is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is home to some of Chile's fanciest neighborhoods comparable to Beverly Hills and River Oaks... |
1,023.7 | 74,749 | 73.0 | link |
| Las Condes Las Condes Las Condes is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. The area is inhabited primarily by upper-mid to high income families... |
99.4 | 249,893 | 2,514.0 | link |
| La Reina La Reina La Reina is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It was created in 1963 from an eastern portion of the Ñuñoa commune... |
23.4 | 96,762 | 4,135.1 | link |
| La Pintana La Pintana La Pintana is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. La Pintana is home to Antumapu, the agricultural and veterinary sciences campus of University of Chile Chile's oldest university.-Demographics:... |
30.6 | 190,085 | 6,211.9 | link |
| La Granja | 10.1 | 132,520 | 13,120.8 | link |
| La Florida | 70.8 | 365,674 | 5,164.9 | link |
| La Cisterna | 10.0 | 85,118 | 8,511.8 | link |
| Independencia | 7.4 | 65,479 | 8,848.5 | link |
| Huechuraba Huechuraba Huechuraba is a city and commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.Huechuraba has a mild mediterranean climate: relatively hot dry summers with temperatures reaching up to on the hottest days; winters are more humid, with typical maximum daily temperatures of ,... |
44.8 | 74,070 | 1,653.3 | link |
| Estación Central Estación Central Estación Central is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. Its name comes from the Estación Central railway station located in the commune.-Demographics:... |
14.1 | 130,394 | 9,247.8 | link |
| El Bosque | 14.1 | 175,594 | 12,453.5 | link |
| Conchalí Conchalí Conchalí is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is a northwestern suburb of Santiago.-Demographics:... |
70.7 | 133,256 | 1,884.8 | link |
| Cerro Navia Cerro Navia Cerro Navia is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is one of the most densely populated communes of Santiago, Chile.- History :... |
11.1 | 148,312 | 13,361.4 | link |
| Cerrillos | 21.0 | 71,906 | 3,424.1 | link |
Climate and natural features
Chilean Coast Range
The Chilean Coastal Range is a mountain range that runs from north to south along the Pacific coast of South America parallel to the Andean Mountains, extending from Morro de Arica in the north to Taitao Peninsula, where it ends at the Chile Triple Junction, in the south. The range has a strong...
acts as a climate screen and reduces marine influence, which makes the climate more continental. This situation becomes apparent when comparing precipitation from a coastal location such as Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
(460 mm) with that of Santiago de Chile (360 mm).
The annual median precipitation reaches 367 mm on average. The annual median temperature comes out to 13.5 °C, with a median high of 21 °C and a median low of 6 °C.
Most of the province is made up of an extremely fertile, level prairie that the locals call la Depresión intermedia (Intermediate Depression). The terrain is known for its low elevation in relation to sea level and for being surrounded by hills, as well as emergent so-called island hills, such as Santa Lucía
Cerro Santa Lucía
Santa Lucía Hill is a small hill in the centre of Santiago, Chile. It borders on Alameda del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins in the south, Santa Lucía Street in the west and Victoria Subercaseaux on the east. An adjacent metro station is named for it. The hill has an altitude of 629 m and a height...
(an ancient extinct volcano), Blanco, and Renca, present today in the city of 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...
.
There is some occurrence of the endangered Chilean Wine Palm, Jubaea chilensis within the Santiago Province; this iconic tree of central Chile had a much larger range prehistorically, before the decimation of much of its habitat by the expanding human population
Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth...
.
History
Before the Iberian conquest, the central zone of ChileChile
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...
was sparsely inhabited by an indigenous population of Picunche
Picunche
The Picunche , also referred to as picones by the Spanish, were a mapudungun speaking Chilean people living to the north of the Mapuches or Araucanians and south of the Choapa River and the Diaguitas...
s, the northern branch of the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
s. The Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an occupation had a considerable impact on the native population and culture, which suffered a rapid and profound disintegration. Chief among the reasons was the Spanish Crown's granting of gifts of land to its colonists. In addition, the institution of a system of encomienda
Encomienda
The encomienda was a system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor....
s, only abolished by the end of the 18th century, had irreversible consequences. It represented first the appropriation of indigenous ground, and second the practice of Spaniards receiving groups of natives who had to pay tribute. Over time, in the Province, as in the whole country, cultural identity became predominantly European in character, with minor hints of native character, thus setting in motion a process of homogenization of the population.
Population
According to the 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 2002, Santiago Province has 4,668,473 inhabitants, of whom 2,244,497 are male and 2,423,976 female, meaning that the number of males is 92.6% that of females. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is the highest in Chile, with 2,999.4 inhabitants/km²; the most densely populated comuna is that of Lo Prado
Lo Prado
Lo Prado is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Lo Prado spans an area of and has 104,316 inhabitants , making the commune an entirely urban area...
and the most populous is La Florida, a suburb of the capital. In 2002, there were 4,658,687 persons living 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 9,786 persons living in rural areas, classifying 99.79% of the population as urban. The annual population growth rate is calculated for 2005 as 0.9%. Life expectancy
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
is exactly the Chilean national average, which is the highest national life expectancy in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
: 80 years on average, 78 for men and 82 for women. The area has an average household income of $29,062 in PPP
Purchasing power parity
In economics, purchasing power parity is a condition between countries where an amount of money has the same purchasing power in different countries. The prices of the goods between the countries would only reflect the exchange rates...
US dollars (2000).
The population tends be concentrated evenly between the heart of the city and the suburbs, due to government promotion of populating urban centers in high-rise buildings by offering state subsidies, thereby avoiding the progressive extension of Greater Santiago.
Economy
Santiago Province's economic activity produces about 30% of the country’s total income; a high number due to both having the capital of the country within its area and to its central location. The "primary" or agricultural sector represents less than 3.5% of the economic activity according to the census, a figure that has remained virtually unchanged during the first few years of the 21st century. The "secondary" or industrial sector contributes 21% of the region's GDP. Finally, the tertiary or service sector fluctuates around 76% of regional GDP.hi
province stands out for its industrial predominance, but most of all, for its service sector. Industry is widely diverse and along with Valparaíso
Valparaíso Region
The V Valparaíso Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions.Valparaíso Region, 2006 With the country's third highest population of 1,539,852 million in 2002 and third smallest area of , the region is Chile's second most densely populated after the Santiago Metropolitan Region...
and Biobío
Bío-Bío Region
The VIII Biobío Region , one of the fifteen first-order administrative divisions in Chile, comprises four provinces: Arauco, Biobio, Concepción, and Ñuble.The capital of the Region is Concepción...
regions, it is one of the country's three industrial pillars. Machinery and electronic equipment, leather, food processing, chemical and metallurgical industry are Santiago Province's most important industries. The predominance of the service sector can be explained by the activity from the following industries, among others: electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
, gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
, water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
, construction, commerce, transportation and communication, financial services, housing, education, health, and public administration.
Transportation and Communication
Because Santiago Province includes the entire city of SantiagoSantiago, 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...
, the network of roads is one of the most important elements in the Province's transportation system. The principal north-south routes are:
Route 5 (Autopista Central)
The basepoint for numbering the kilometers of the "Central Highway", the Chilean portion of the Panamerican Highway is in Santiago Province. This Kilometer ZeroKilometer Zero
Kilometer Zero is a collective of international artists and writers that produces magazines, theatre, and artistic performances. It was founded in Paris, France at the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in the year 2000. The group operates as an association under the French laws of 1901...
falls at the intersection with the Alameda del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins
Alameda del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins
Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins , popularly known as La Alameda , is Santiago, Chile's main avenue. It runs east-west in the center of the greater urban area and is 15 km long, and it has 5 lanes in each direction. It was named after Chile's founding father Bernardo O'Higgins...
. The highway, nicknamed "Norte-Sur" ("North-South"), consists of quality pavement and two- and three-lane roads.
Route 68
This route links Santiago with Valparaíso and Viña del MarViña del Mar
Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located...
and summer resorts and beaches in the fifth region of Valparaíso. In addition, it connects the towns of Casablanca
Casablanca, Chile
Casablanca, meaning "white house", is a Chilean city and commune located in Valparaíso Province, Valparaíso Region.- Geography :The city of Casablanca is located on Route 68 between Santiago and the city of Valparaíso, at about 30 minutes southeast of Valparaíso and 50 minutes northwest of Santiago...
and Curacaví
Curacaví
Curacaví is a city and commune in the Melipilla Province of central Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Geography and climate:Immersed among the hills of the coastal mountain range, Curacaví occupies an area of and borders the following communes: Casablanca, Quilpué, Lampa, Pudahuel, Maipú,...
. The toll highway, consisting of two- and three-lane sections of well-maintained pavement, extends for 115 kilometers.
Route 78 (Autopista del Sol)
The "Highway of the Sun" is a toll road that unites the city of Santiago with San Antonio, and from there connects to several other coastal towns including LlolleoLlolleo
Llolleo, also called Llo-Lleo, is a town in the commune of San Antonio, V Region of Valparaiso, Chile. It is located 98 km from Santiago de Chile and 4 km from the port of San Antonio...
, Cartagena
Cartagena, Chile
Cartagena is a Chilean commune located in the San Antonio Province, Valparaíso Region. The commune spans an area of .-History:In the seventeenth century the area surrounding the town became a major producer of wheat, which was shipped to Peru and Spain via the port of...
, El Quisco
El Quisco
El Quisco is a Chilean city and commune in San Antonio Province, Valparaíso Region. Located in the country's central coast, it serves as a popular summer resort for the population of Santiago...
and Algarrobo
Algarrobo, Chile
Algarrobo is a Chilean city and commune in San Antonio Province, Valparaíso Region. Located on the country's central coast, it is a popular summer resort for the population of Santiago...
, as well as connecting to the more central Melipilla
Melipilla
Melipilla is a Chilean commune and capital city of the province of the same name, located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region southwest of the nation's capital...
, Talagante
Talagante
Talagante is a commune and the capital city of the province of the same name in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of central Chile. The word Talagante in Quechua comes from talacanta, meaning "Lazo de Hechicero", which was the proper name of the curaca, or ruler, who dominated this central valley on...
, El Monte, Padre Hurtado
Padre Hurtado
Padre Hurtado is a Chilean city and commune in Talagante Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. A portion of the commune belongs to the Greater Santiago conurbation...
and Peñaflor
Peñaflor, Chile
Peñaflor is a city and commune of the Talagante Province in central Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Geography:It can be found in the Chilean Central Valley approximately southwest of the metropolitan area of Santiago...
. Route 78 extends 110 kilometers.
Route G-21
This 40 kilometer route joins the city of Santiago with the winter resort town Farellones and Valle NevadoValle Nevado
Valle Nevado is a popular ski resort located 46 kilometers east of Santiago, Chile.Valle Nevado is one of South America's most modern ski resorts...
.
Route G-25
This route connects Santiago and the province of Puente AltoPuente Alto
Puente Alto is a city and commune of Chile. It is the capital of the Cordillera Province in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Located at the south of the Greater Santiago conurbation, it houses 492,603 inhabitants , making it the largest city in Chile...
with Cajón del Maipo
Cajón del Maipo
Cajón del Maipo is a canyon located in the Andean southeastern portion of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile. It encompasses the upper Maipo River basin, where the river has entrenched itself in a narrow valley...
. It extends roughly 70 km to its termination in the town of El Volcán.
Urban Roads and Railways
Other important highways in Santiago province are part of Santiago's network of Autopistas Urbanas (urban highways). Santiago's first toll roads began to operate near the end of 2004. The tolls for uctronic payment system called Televía or TAG. Vehicles must carry TAG devices to use the highways.The main highways in Santiago province are:
- Autopista CentralAutopista CentralAutopista Central is a modern, privatized, partially submerged highway in Chile. It is the longest of the Santiago highways with a length of .- External links :*...
- Autopista Costanera Norte
- Autopista Vespucio Norte Express
- Autopista Vespucio Sur
The province's railroads are a vital form of daily mass transit. They are operated by the state agency EFE
Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado
Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado is the national railway of Chile.The track gauge is Indian gauge in the south and metre gauge in the north.-History:...
. It provides a continuous railroad between the cities of Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
in Valparaíso
Valparaíso Region
The V Valparaíso Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions.Valparaíso Region, 2006 With the country's third highest population of 1,539,852 million in 2002 and third smallest area of , the region is Chile's second most densely populated after the Santiago Metropolitan Region...
and 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...
in Los Lagos
Los Lagos Region
Los Lagos Region is one of Chile's 15 regions, which are first order administrative divisions, and comprises four provinces: Chiloé, Llanquihue, Osorno and Palena. The region contains the country's second largest island, Chiloé, and the second largest lake, Llanquihue.Its capital is Puerto Montt;...
. The trains of Metrotrén
Metrotrén
The Metrotrén , is a Chilean commuter rail system operated by Trenes Metropolitanos S.A., a subsidiary of the Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado , that covers 13 communes, from Santiago de Chile to San Fernando. It is connected with Metro de Santiago in Alameda station...
connect the outlying suburbs with the capital. Another important mode of transportation in the city is the Santiago Metro
Santiago Metro
Metro de Santiago is South America's most extensive metro system with 5 lines, 108 stations and 103 kilometres of track making it the second longest in Latin America after that of Mexico City. The metro system serves the city of Santiago, Chile. Three of the lines are rubber-tyred...
, a subway system. The five train lines carry an average of one million people daily, making the metro one of the leading means of transportation in the entire country. In one year, the metro services over 360 million people. Both the metro and the railroad system are considered the most modern in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. The Transantiago
Transantiago
Transantiago is a public transport system that serves Santiago, the capital of Chile. It is considered the most ambitious transport reform undertaken by a developing country according to the World Resources Institute....
bus system is also important.