Area of the Lakes

The Région of the Lakes to the Chile is the Xe of the country. It is surrounded in north by the Région of the Rivers, in the east by the Argentine and in the south by the Region of Aisén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo. It is a formed area of mountains, islands and lakes (as its name indicates it).

Geographically the area is divided into three parts. The continental sector which go until Puerto-Montt, the archipelago of Chiloé and the area of the Fjord S leant with the the Andes and the border with the Argentine.

History

The area was for the first time explored in XVIe century by the Spaniards who founded the town of Valdivia. They had nevertheless to give up it after an attack of the Indians mapuche. Until the XVIIIe century, the area, except for the island of Chiloé, was forgotten by the Spaniards. It is when the passage by the south was discovered and used by the British ships which they returned to settle in Valdivia and mainly with Corral where old extremely can be visited.

At the end of the XIXe century and the impulse of the Chilean government, of the thousands of colonists, come mainly from Germany deforested the area surrounding the lakes and built new cities. One of it, Puerto Varas is the example more successful of the integration of German architecture (Bavarian) in Chile.

Climate

It is an area with the wet climate. It rains all the year there, with maxima in winter (June at September). The temperatures in summer exceed only seldom the 25° C and the winters are relatively cold; a little less 10° C on average the day. The ocean Pacifique makes nevertheless effect of regulator; the temperatures do not fluctuate too abruptly compared to latitude at which this area is located.

Provinces

Economy

Fishing and agriculture are very important for the area. The salmon of Chile is now exported abroad. Tourism is the second source of revenue, mainly since the area is visited by the Western tourists come to explore the cordillera where to benefit from the access to Bariloche in Argentine while passing by the lake of Todos los Santos .

Attractions

Now this area is mainly known for its tourist sites, of which that of the Volcan Osorno and for the island of Chiloé.

The Osorno volcano is accessible by a road which carries out to the refuge. It is possible to ski on the volcano, a ski lift even exists.

The island of Chiloé is accessible by boat from the continent. This island is known for its churches, disseminated on the archipelago and which belong to the inheritance of humanity according to UNESCO.

Earthquake of 1960

detailed Article: Earthquake of 1960 in Chile

The May 22nd 1960, take place in this area, the Earthquake which to date, is regarded as most extremely which was recorded. Of force 8,5 on the scale of Richter (according to the seismic wave) and of 9,4 on the scale of Richter (by taking account of the size and the displacement of the fault). There were 37 epicentres and its duration is estimated between 8 and 10 minutes.

This seism was followed of a destroying tsunami which absorbs the major part of cities located vis-a-vis the ocean Pacifique. The movement of the plates caused the lowering of several meters of the ground, between Puerto Saavedra in the north of Valdivia and Castro; the coast was absorbed in several places.

The force of the seism awoke more than one ten volcanos, and its consequences are still visible in the fields; those are now flooded and there remain nothing any more but the barriers out of wooden to be indicated than one day it was a field used for agriculture or the animals. There was approximately 5 600 died according to the official calculations, but, like the area, very poor at the time, was populated above all alive peasants in areas which remained difficult access, it may be that the number of the victims is more important.

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