Valparaiso Region

The V Valparaíso Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. With the country's third highest population of 1,539,852 million in 2002 and third smallest area of 16,396.1 km2 (6,331 sq mi), the region is Chile's second most densely populated after the Santiago Metropolitan Region to the southeast.

Its capital is the port city of Valparaíso, other important cities include Viña del Mar, Quillota, Quilpué and Villa Alemana.

Geography and natural features

The region is on the same latitude as the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Its capital is Valparaíso, which is the site for the National Congress of Chile and an important commercial port. Also in this region is the top resort city of Viña del Mar. Additionally, the Pacific islands of Easter Island (Isla de Pascua), Isla Salas y Gómez, the Juan Fernández Islands and the Desventuradas Islands fall under the Valparaíso Region's administration.

The Valparaíso Region is part of the very restricted range of the endangered Chilean Wine Palm, Jubaea chilensis; in prehistoric times this endemic Chilean tree had a significantly larger range.

Economics and industry

The Valparaíso region is host of agricultural lands, wine producers, and industrial activity such as copper mining and cement. Chile's largest oil refinery is located in Concón (on the mouth of the Aconcagua River and about 20 km north of Valparaíso) and there are two important copper ore refineries: the state owned Ventanas (on the coast and north of Concón) and the private works in Chagres, about 55 miles (90 km) inland.

The region also is a hub for chemicals and gas storage near the port of Quintero. In the interior valleys there is a booming export industry mainly around the avocado (palta), chirimoyas and flowers as the most important products. The most striking recent development has been the cultivation of hill sides using high tech drip feed irrigation. This has allowed otherwise dry and unproductive land to bear high yields.

Provinces and communes

Region Province Commune Area
(km²) 2002
Population Website Valparaíso
(V) Isla de Pascua Isla de Pascua 164 3,791 link Los Andes San Esteban 1,362 14,400 link Rinconada 123 6,692 link Los Andes 1,248 60,198 link Calle Larga 322 10,393 link Marga Marga Villa Alemana 97 95,623 link Quilpué 537 128,578 link Limache 294 39,219 link Petorca Zapallar 288 5,659 link Petorca 1,517 9,440 link Papudo 166 4,608 link La Ligua 1,163 31,987 link Cabildo 1,455 18,916 link Quillota Quillota 302 75,916 link Olmué 232 14,105 link Nogales 405 21,633 link La Cruz 78 12,851 link La Calera 61 49,503 link Hijuelas 267 16,014 link San Antonio Santo Domingo 536 7,418 link San Antonio 405 87,205 link El Tabo 99 7,028 link El Quisco 51 9,467 link Cartagena 346 16,875 link Algarrobo 176 8,601 link San Felipe Santa María 166 12,813 link San Felipe 186 64,126 link Putaendo 1,474 14,649 link Panquehue 122 6,567 link Llaillay 349 21,644 link Catemu 362 12,112 link Valparaíso Viña del Mar 122 286,931 link Valparaíso 402 275,982 link Quintero 148 21,174 link Puchuncaví 300 12,954 link Concón 76 32,273 link Casablanca 953 21,874 link Juan Fernández 148 633 link