Temuco, Chile
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| Temuco | |
 |
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| Founded | 24th February, 1881, |
| Original Name | Fuerte Recabarren |
| Region | Araucanía |
| Area - City Proper |
113km² |
| Population - City (2005) - Density (city proper) |
210.587 Inhabitants 113,9 Hab/km² |
| Time zone | Santiago Time Zone, UTC- 4 |
| Telephone Prefix | 45 |
| Gentilic | Temuquense |
| Day | 24 February |
| Mayor | Francisco Huenchumilla (DC) (2004-2008) |
| Official site | http://www.temucochile.com |
Temuco is the capital of the IX región de la Araucanía, Chile. The name comes from "temu", which, in the mapudungun language means "water", and is also a tree used by Mapuches for medicinal purposes. The city is located 670 km south of Santiago. Because it is near lake-based resort centers, it constitutes a hub for touristic excursions.
Temuco also has deep roots in Chilean poetry. Nobel Poets Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda both lived in Temuco. Mistral was the principal at the school where Neruda (Neftali Reyes) studied. That school is now named after Neruda.
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[edit] History
It was founded on February 24, 1881 as a fort during the Occupation of the Araucanía. Manuel Recabarren, in charge of the project, named the place Fuerte (Fort) Recabarren.
Born as a military encampment, Temuco had in its origins the attributes of a camp, and a year after its founding, the first major streets started to form in the downtown area.
On April 15th, 1888, the first city officers were elected, including the first mayor José del Rosario Muñoz. The city grew quickly; a census in 1895 indicated a population of 7,708 people, and when Cautin was declared a province, Temuco became its capital, with its population by that time standing at 16,037 people.
[edit] Geography and climate
Temuco is a city located in the Southern Region of Chile 38°45′S
72°40′W which is located at about the same distance between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes. Morphologically, the city placement corresponds to Cautín River-originated fluvial land masses that developed in a crushed form between hills Ñielol (350m) and Conunhueno (360m).
The city is surrounded by an environment typical to southern Chile, consisting mostly of coniferous forests in the midst of a central prairie of moraines and cones next to the pre-Andres mountains. Fitogeographically, this is the zone of high production multicrops and fruits, with the presence of various trees, such as alerce, roble and lingue. Despite all this, its good air quality has started deteriorating because of the thick smog layer, which is saturating the environment.
Climatologically, this corresponds to Chile's central valley mediterranean region, with a subtropical weather and transition to humid regions. Throughout the years, cyclonic and anticyclonic influences do alternate, with a short dry summer period (when compared to Santiago or other central valley cities). Its mean annual temperature is 12ºC, with highest median during the warmest month of 23.5ºC and lowest median during the coldest month of 3.9ºC (Ciren-Corfo, 1992). Annual mean rain during 1961-1990 (Dirección Meteorológica de Chile, 1991) was 1.157 mm (Capelli de Steffens et al., 1997).
[edit] Demographics
This city has over 300,000 inhabitants (2002), which makes it one of the most populous cities in southern Chile. One of the distinctive features of Temuco is the strong presence of the mapuche culture, who make up 25% of the population, and numerous German immigrant colonies.
[edit] Transport
Traffic is frequently congested during working hours and parking on public streets in the downtown sector is difficult to find and is controlled with parking fees being charged. Many streets are one-way, and marked with an arrow, if and when visible or installed.
In residential areas people frequently park on either side of the street, regardless of traffic direction and in some areas vehicles may be seen parked either entirely or partially --with only one side of the vehicle-- on the sidewalk or grass area.
Steet drainage is a frequent problem in rainy seasons, as drains clog or are inadequate to handle sudden water accumulations.
Traffic signals frequently use green arrows to control turns and right hand turns are not permitted when a red light is showing unless there is a specifc sign authorizing such a turn.
Drivers often disregard marked traffic lanes and many buses and collective taxis will stop virtually anywhere to take on or discharge passengers.
Buses and collective taxies are the most popular massive tranport. The bus fare is $100 for students an $250 for adults; the collectivos charge $300 ($400 at night). Regular taxis are also available.
Maquehue Airport is commercial air terminal for Temuco located to the South of the city. Because its low capacity, the Chilean Airport Direction is projecting a new and bigger airport for Temuco. It would be located near Freire, about 20 minutes southern from Temuco. At the time there is a controversy because it would be located in Mapuche areas.
The railroad connects Temuco with Santiago to the north and Puerto Montt in the south and points in between.
Temuco does not have a rapid transit rail system.
[edit] Important places
- Alemania Avenue
Is the principal Artery in Temuco. Here we can find The Araucaria Museum building (19th century Chilean style); the Menchaca Lira Campus of Art Building (a Victorian Style building, recently restored); The English Alley, where we can find the Red Cross Bulding and a Blue house (Both Victorian styled).
Recently, the Alemania Av. has become an important commercial centre. Several restaurants, drug stores, boutiques, supermarkets and two shopping malls have been opened there. Soon, there will also be a Casino built there as well.
The Alemania Av. also has several University campuses; such as the Mayor University campus of Architecture, medicine and communications; the U.C.T Art campus; the U.F.R.O medicine campus; and the Autonoma University.
- Downtown
The core of Downtown Temuco is the Main Square Anibal Pinto. Temuco's Main Square is the only one in Chile that was not built with a water fountain in its centre; an art gallery was built in 1981 as part of a total renewal. Compared to other main squares of southern Chile, Temuco's main square is modern. It is a tradition, in all creole cities in Chile, that some specific buildings must be in front of the main square; in Temuco, this tradition was broken. Main Squares are supposed to be surrounded by : a Cathedral (which is infront of Temuco's main square, as traditionally), the Municipality (which is not located in front of the square, as it should by tradition),a Theatre(there is a film theatre in front of it, but is relatively new),a Fire Station (there is not a fire station in front of the square, as it should),a School (there is no school in front of the main square), and a Bank (there are four banks around the main square)
- Ñielol Hill
The Ñielol Hill represents the original forest of the whole southern Chile area as it was before the Spanish people colonize it. It has also a special meaning for the Mapuche population as a religious center at the top. We can also find a restaurant at the top and a viewpoint of the east side of the city and Padre Las Casas, across the river. It is a "must" for visitors.
[edit] Other features
Temuco is one of the newest cities of Chile. Its modern infrastructure, current architecture, and commercial downtown area define it as an important southern city. It has the largest departament stores in the south of Chile, and has a very active commerce. Temuco is home to the universities known as Universidad de la Frontera, Universidad Católica de Temuco Universidad Mayor de Temuco and Universidad Autónoma del Chile. It has a very notable geographic feature called Ñielol Hill (Cerro Ñielol, in Spanish).
The central market is generally considered one of the best places to buy Mapuche crafts, and the Produce and meat market on the east side of town is renown for it's local produce, including pinones (nuts from the Araucaria tree). Across from the central market is also located a local restaurant selling typical Chilean family fare at Restaurante Rapa Nui on Aldunate street.
