Ñuble Province
Encyclopedia
Ñuble Province is one of four provinces
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 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...

an region of Biobío (VIII). It spans an area of 13178.5 sqkm and is administratively constituted by 21 communes. It has a population of 441,604 inhabitants. Its capital is the city of Chillán
Chillán
Chillán is a city in the Biobío Region of Chile located about south of the country's capital, Santiago, near the geographical center of the country. It is the capital of Ñuble Province and, with a population of approximately 170,000 people , the most populated urban center of this province...

.

History

The province was created in 1848 with the San Carlos Department of Maule Province and Chillán Department of Concepción Province
Concepción Province, Chile
Concepción Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . Its capital, Concepción, is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation, the nation's second largest metropolitan area after Santiago.-Administration:...

. In 1884, the departments of Bulnes and Yungay, were created from the Chillán Department. In 1927, the provincial limits were modified and the Itata Department was added from Maule. Later, in 1976, the communes of Coelemu
Coelemu
Coelemu is a Chilean commune and city in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. According to the 2002 census, the commune population was 16,082 and has an area of .-Demographics:...

 and Ránquil
Ránquil
Ránquil is a Chilean commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. The communal capital is the town of Ñipas.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute Ránquil had 5,683 inhabitants . Of these, 1,337 lived in urban areas and 4,346 in rural areas...

 from Concepción Province, and the commune of Tucapel
Tucapel
Tucapel is a town and commune in the Arauco Province, Biobío Region, Chile. It was once a region of Araucanía named for the Tucapel River. The name of the region derived from the rehue and aillarehue of the Moluche people of the area between the Lebu and the Lleulleu Rivers, who were famed for...

 from Biobío Province
Biobío Province
Biobío Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . Its capital is Los Ángeles . It is bounded on the north, west and south by the provinces of Concepción, Arauco and Malleco, respectively, and on the east by Argentina. It has an area of of well-wooded and mountainous...

, were added.

Following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...

, at least eight small communities and two towns were abandoned by residents, who took up makeshift camps in the hills, fearful of further tsunamis. Over 800 residences in the town of Quirihue
Quirihue
Quirihue is a Chilean city in Quirihue, Ñuble Province, Bío-Bío Region.It is located about 72 kilometers northwest of Chillán, 82 kilometers north of Concepción and 398 kilometers south of Santiago-27 February 2010 tsunami and quake:...

 were destroyed, leaving little for townspeople to return to.

Geography and demography

According to the 2002 census by 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...

 (INE), the province spans an area of 13178.5 sqkm and had a population of 438,103 inhabitants (217,024 men and 221,079 women), giving it a population density of 33.2 PD/sqkm. It is the seventh most populated province in the country. Of these, 285,108 (65.1%) lived in urban areas and 152,995 (34.9%) in rural areas. Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population grew by 4.5% (18,854 persons).

Culture and tourism

Ñuble has a lot of attractions for tourists, including:
  • The Spas of Chillán are a winter and, more importantly, summer tourist complex of the province and the region, located among millenarian forests and inexhaustible thermal water sources.
  • The comuna of Pinto, located 24 km (15 mi) to the southeast of Chillán, is an agricultural area with some beautiful rural areas where native flora and fauna can be found.
  • The Lleuques is a cordillerano bath located next to the Rengado River and which has beautiful places surrounded by mountains.
  • Cobquecura located in the coastal sector, and has several beaches and places to make excursions (like the Calvario Hill).
  • The commune of Quillón is home of the Avendaño Lagoon, for water-skiing, swimming, sailing, and rowing.
  • The commune San Fabián de Alico, has beautiful landscapes is an excellent locality for excursions, camping and fishing.


Other places of interest are the Market and Fair of Chillán, one of the more beautiful and important artisan centers of Chile. Murals by Siqueiros
David Alfaro Siqueiros
José David Alfaro Siqueiros was a social realist painter, known for his large murals in fresco that helped establish the Mexican Mural Renaissance, together with works by Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco, and also a member of the Mexican Communist Party who participated in an...

 were donated by the Government of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

. There is also Bernardo O'Higgins Monumental Park in the locality of Old Chillán.

Among the activities characteristic of Ñuble are crafts, in particular in the localities of Quinchamalí (considered like one of the country's more important places of artisan production of white clay pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...

), Coihueco (characterized by the wood carvings and loom weaving), Ninhue
Ninhue
Ninhue is a Chilean commune and town in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Ninhue spans an area of and has 5,738 inhabitants . Of these, 1,433 lived in urban areas and 4,305 in rural areas...

 and San Fabián de Alico.

In recent years the province of Ñuble has consolidated an important forest sector, thanks to favorable climatic conditions land for the development of plantations of such rapidly growing trees as pinus radiata and eucaliptus globulus.

Ñuble has a variety of celebrations and events. Outstanding among these are the Rodeo, a celebration huasa
Huaso
A huaso is a Chilean countryman and skilled horseman, similar to the Argentinian, Rio Grande do Sul's or Uruguayan gaucho, the American cowboy, the Australian stockman, and Mexican vaquero and charro. A female huaso is called a huasa, although the term china is far more commonly used for his wife...

 that takes place between September and February. The Agro-Expo of San Carlos is an agricultural, cattle and artisan exhibition, with strong accent on dairying.
  • The Carnival of Quillón, traditional celebration with artistic spectacles and dances.
  • The Celebration of the Vendimia, the celebration of autumn in the locality of Santacruz de Cuca.
  • The Festival of Creole Roots in Coihueco, which revives folkloric traditions.
  • The gathering of Folkloric Roots of Portezuelo in the month of November brings together an important group of singers, artisan and cultural singers and expressions of rural sectors of Ñuble and the country.
  • The celebrations of the Cherry and Esquila; this first occurs in December in Quinchamalí, with typical folkloric activities, meals, exhibitions and tasting of cherries, jams and liqueurs; second the Cardal "in the commune of Yungay takes place in the sector".


The province has the pride of being the home of patriots, artists and other men of note, including, Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile , he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder...

, Arturo Prat
Arturo Prat
Agustín Arturo Prat Chacón was a Chilean navy officer. He was killed shortly after boarding the Peruvian armored monitor Huáscar at the Naval Battle of Iquique after the ship under his command, the Esmeralda, was rammed by the Peruvian monitor...

, Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau León was a Chilean pianist known for his interpretations of a vast repertoire spanning from the baroque to 20th-century composers, especially Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms and Debussy...

, Ramón Vinay
Ramón Vinay
Ramón Vinay was a famous Chilean operatic tenor with a powerful, dramatic voice. He is probably best remembered for his appearances in the title role of Giuseppe Verdi's tragic opera Otello....

, and Violeta Parra
Violeta Parra
Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval was a notable Chilean composer, songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist...

.

Chillán, the capital of Ñuble, may be reached by the following routes:
  • By automobile: 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...

    : towards the south by Route 5
    Chile Highway 5
    Chile Highway 5 or Route 5 known locally as Ruta 5 is Chile's longest route. It is part of the Panamerican Highway.-Stretch:It runs from the Peruvian border connecting with Peru Highway 1 north of Arica to Puerto Montt where it connects by ferry to the island of Chiloé...

     (Pan-American Highway
    Pan-American Highway
    The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads measuring about in total length. Except for an rainforest break, called the Darién Gap, the road links the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system. According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's...

    ), they are 399 km (248 mi) of freeway. From Concepción
    Concepción, Chile
    Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...

    : towards the east by route 152, they are 112 km (70 mi) of freeway.
  • In airplane: Concepción is the nearest airport.
  • In train: Terrasur of 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:...

     (the national railway) Av. Brazil s/n Chillán Station.

Administration

As a province, Ñuble is a second-level administrative division
Administrative 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, 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...

 who is 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...

.

Communes

The province comprises 21 communes, each governed by a municipality consisting of an elected 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...

.
  • Bulnes
    Bulnes, Chile
    Bulnes is a Chilean city and commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Bulnes spans an area of and has 20,595 inhabitants . Of these, 12,514 lived in urban areas and 8,081 in rural areas...

  • Cobquecura
    Cobquecura
    Cobquecura is a town and commune in the Ñuble Province of Chile's eighth region of Biobío . The town is located on the northwest Pacific coast of the Ñuble Province about southwest of the national capital of Santiago.On February 27, 2010 Cobquecura was the epicenter of the huge earthquake and...

  • Coelemu
    Coelemu
    Coelemu is a Chilean commune and city in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. According to the 2002 census, the commune population was 16,082 and has an area of .-Demographics:...

  • Coihueco
    Coihueco
    Coihueco is a Chilean commune and city in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. It is located near Chillán, the provincial capital. Coihueco borders San Carlos and San Fabián on the north, Argentina on the east, Pinto on the South, and Chillán on the west....

  • Chillán
    Chillán
    Chillán is a city in the Biobío Region of Chile located about south of the country's capital, Santiago, near the geographical center of the country. It is the capital of Ñuble Province and, with a population of approximately 170,000 people , the most populated urban center of this province...

  • Chillán Viejo
    Chillán Viejo
    Chillán Viejo is a city and commune in the Ñuble Province of Chile's eighth region of Biobío . According to the 2002 census, the population of the commune was 22,084 and it has an area of .-History:...

  • El Carmen
    El Carmen, Chile
    El Carmen is a Chilean commune and town in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, El Carmen spans an area of and has 12,845 inhabitants . Of these, 4,426 lived in urban areas and 8,419 in rural areas...

  • Ninhue
    Ninhue
    Ninhue is a Chilean commune and town in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Ninhue spans an area of and has 5,738 inhabitants . Of these, 1,433 lived in urban areas and 4,305 in rural areas...

  • Ñiquén
    Ñiquén
    Ñiquén is a commune of the Ñuble province, located in the north of the of Biobío Region of Chile. Geographically, it is delimited by the Perquilauquén River to the north and the Ñiquén River in the south...

     (San Gregorio de Ñiquén)
  • Pemuco
    Pemuco
    Pemuco is a Chilean town and commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Pemuco spans an area of and has 8,821 inhabitants . Of these, 3,844 lived in urban areas and 4,977 in rural areas...

  • Pinto
    Pinto, Chile
    Pinto is a Chilean town and commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. It is bordered by the commune of Coihueco to the north, Chillán and San Ignacio to the west, and El Carmen and Antuco to the south...

  • Portezuelo
    Portezuelo
    Portezuelo is a Chilean town and commune located in the Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Portezuelo spans an area of and has 5,470 inhabitants . Of these, 1,750 lived in urban areas and 3,720 in rural areas...

  • Quillón
    Quillón
    Quillón is a Chilean city and commune and Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Quillón spans an area of and has 15,146 inhabitants . Of these, 7,536 lived in urban areas and 7,610 in rural areas...

  • Quirihue
    Quirihue
    Quirihue is a Chilean city in Quirihue, Ñuble Province, Bío-Bío Region.It is located about 72 kilometers northwest of Chillán, 82 kilometers north of Concepción and 398 kilometers south of Santiago-27 February 2010 tsunami and quake:...

  • Ránquil
    Ránquil
    Ránquil is a Chilean commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. The communal capital is the town of Ñipas.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute Ránquil had 5,683 inhabitants . Of these, 1,337 lived in urban areas and 4,346 in rural areas...

  • San Carlos
    San Carlos, Chile
    San Carlos is the name of a city and commune of Ñuble Province in the Biobío Region of Chile.-Geography and agriculture:...

  • San Fabián
    San Fabián
    San Fabián is one of 21 communes in the Ñuble Province of central Chile's Biobío Region. The capital is the town of San Fabián de Alico. The commune spans an area of .-Administration:...

  • San Ignacio
    San Ignacio, Chile
    San Ignacio is a Chilean town and commune located in the Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. It spans an area of .-Demographics:According to data from the 2002 Census of Population and Housing, San Ignacio had 16,106 inhabitants; of these, 4,873 lived in urban areas and 11,233 in rural areas. At that...

  • San Nicolás
    San Nicolás, Chile
    San Nicolás is a Chilean town and commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, San Nicolás spans an area of and has 9,741 inhabitants . Of these, 3,428 lived in urban areas and 6,313 in rural areas...

  • Treguaco
    Treguaco
    Treguaco, also spelled as Trehuaco, is a Chilean town and commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. The commune spans an area of .-Demographics:...

  • Yungay
    Yungay, Chile
    Yungay is a Chilean town and commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. The commune spans an area of .-Demographics:According to data from the 2002 Census of Population and Housing, the Yungay commune had 16,814 inhabitants; of these, 11,469 lived in urban areas and 5,345 in rural areas. At that...

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