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Valparaíso is one of the main seaports of Chile, on the Pacific Ocean, and the capital of the Valparaíso Region. It played an important geopolitical role in the second half of the 19th century, when it served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by crossing the Straights of Magellan. Categories: Stub | Commercial item transport and distribution | Transportation ...
The Republic of Chile is a country located on the southwestern coast of South America. ...
The Pacific Ocean (from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, peaceful sea, bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan) is the worlds largest body of water. ...
Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Valparaíso is located near the center of Chile at latitude 33° 01´S, longitude 71° 38´W, two hours by highway from the capital Santiago. Satellite image of Santiago Santiago (full form Santiago de Chile) is the capital of Chile. ...
The Chilean Congress meets in a modern building in the Almendral section of Valparaiso, after relocation from Santiago de Chile during the last years of the military rule of general Augusto Pinochet. Although congressional activities were to be legally moved by a ruling in 1987, the newly built site only began to function as the seat of Congress during the democratically-elected government of Patricio Aylwin, who followed Pinochet, in 1990 . Politics of Chile Politics of Chile Political parties in Chile Elections in Chile: President: 1970 - 1989 - 2005 Government Chile is a republic with an elected President and a bicameral Congress. ...
Satellite image of Santiago Santiago (full form Santiago de Chile) is the capital of Chile. ...
General Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte1 (born November 25, 1915) was head of the military government that ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990. ...
Patricio Aylwin Azócar (born November 26, 1918) was the president of Chile after its return to democratic rule in 1990, following the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. ...
History Valparaíso's bay was first populated by Changos, an ethnic group dedicated to fishing and gathering. Spanish explorers arrived in 1536, on the (Santiaguillo), a ship sent by Diego de Almagro, considered the first European explorer of Chile. The Santiaguillo carried men and supplies for Almagro's expedition, under the command of Juan de Saavedra. Changos was a tribe of native South Americans who appear to have originally inhabited the Peruvian coast and spread south to the coast of Chile and further south. ...
Events February 2 - Spaniard Pedro de Mendoza founds Argentina. ...
Diego de Almagro (1475 - July 8, 1538), El Adelantado, was a Spanish conquistador and a companion and rival of Francisco Pizarro. ...
During Spanish colonial times, Valparaíso remained a small village, with only a few houses and a church. After Chilean Independence from Spain, Valparaíso became the main harbor for the nascent Chilean navy, and opened to international trade, which had been limited to commerce with Spain and its other colonies. Valparaiso soon became a required stopover for ships crossing between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via the Strait of Magellan and Cape Horn, and gained particular importance supporting and supplying the California Gold Rush (1848-1858). In its role as a major seaport, Valparaíso received immigrants from many countries, mainly from England, Germany and Italy. German, French, Italian and English were commonly spoken among its citizens, who also had newspapers in these same languages. The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ...
For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ...
The Strait of Magellan, near Punta Arenas The Strait of Magellan is a navigable route immediately south of mainland South America. ...
Cape Horn is often said to be the southernmost point of South America. ...
Gold rush handbill The California Gold Rush was a period in American history marked by mass hysteria concerning a gold discovery in Northern California. ...
International immigration transformed the local culture from its Spanish origins. Football (soccer) was introduced to Chile by Englishmen, and the first private, non-Catholic schools were founded by immigrants from England and Germany (The Mackay School, and Deutsche Schule respectively). Immigrants also formed the first volunteer fire-fighting units (still a volunteer activity in Chile), while architecture reflected European styles.
The golden age of Valparaíso's commerce ended after the opening of the Panama Canal, as most ships sought to avoid the Strait of Magellan, and the port's importance and use was reduced substantially. Traffic has increased in the last few decades with fruit exports and increasing opening of the Chilean economy to world commerce. Panama Canal The Panama Canal is a large canal, 51 miles (82 kilometers) long, that cuts through the isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. ...
Today Valparaíso is arguably the most important Chilean seaport, and Gran Valparaíso, Chile (which includes Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Quilpué and Villa Alemana) has the third largest concentration of population in the country, after Gran Concepcion, and Gran Santiago.
Valparaiso's road infrastructure is under substantial improvement at present, particularly with the upcoming completion of the Placilla-La Polvora highway bypass, which will permit trucks to go directly to the port facility over a modern highway and through tunnels, without driving through the historic and already congested downtown streets. In addition, roads to link Valparaiso to San Antonio, Chile's second largest port, and the coastal towns in between (Laguna Verde, Quintay, Algarrobo, and Isla Negra, for example), are also under various degrees of completion.
Culture Valparaíso was declared a World Heritage Site in 2003, thanks to its historical importance, natural beauty (large number of hills surrounding a picturesque harbor), and unique architecture (particularly, a mix of 19th century styles of housing). Elabana Falls is in Lamington National Park, part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves World Heritage site in Queensland, Australia. ...
Valparaíso's newspaper, "El Mercurio de Valparaiso" (http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl/), claims to be the oldest Spanish-language newspaper in circulation in the world.
"Fundación Renzo Pecchenino, LUKAS" (http://www.lukas.cl/) maintains the drawings and paintings of the artist/cartoonist who came to symbolize Valparaiso in popular culture, in a newly restored building on Cerro Concepcion, overlooking the bay.
The city has the second largest concentration of universities in Chile, and is home to four major universities:
Valparaíso is the birthplace of many historically significant figures, including Augusto Pinochet and Salvador Allende among them. It has also been the residence of many artists like Pablo Neruda and Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío. The Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (UTFSM) (Spanish Federico Santa María Technical University), situated in Valparaíso, is one of the most reputed engineering universities in Chile. ...
The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) (Catholic University of Valparaíso), is one of oldest and important universities of Chile. ...
General Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte1 (born November 25, 1915) was head of the military government that ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990. ...
Dr. Salvador Allende Gossens1 (July 26, 1908 - September 11, 1973) was president of Chile from 1970 until 1973, when he was overthrown in a military coup détat (see Chilean coup of 1973), during which he died. ...
Pablo Neruda Pablo Neruda (July 12, 1904 – September 23, 1973), Chilean poet, considered one of the most important Latin American literary figures of the 20th century. ...
Links - Tourist and Cultural Website of Valparaíso (http://www.valparaisonline.cl/)
- Municipalidad de Valparaíso (http://www.municipalidaddevalparaiso.cl/)
- Museo de Historia Natural (http://www.dibam.cl/subdirec_museos/mhn_valpo/)
- El Mercurio de Valparaíso (http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl)
- La Sebastiana (http://www.lasebastiana-neruda.cl), Neruda house/museum
- Fundacion Valparaiso (http://www.fundacionvalparaiso.org/)
- Portal Valparaiso (http://www.portvalparaiso.cl/index_ingles.asp) (info about the seaport)
- Naval and Maritime Museum (http://www.armada.cl/site/tradicion_historia/tradicion/museonaval/), maintained by the Chilean Navy
- Escuela Naval Arturo Prat (http://www.escuelanaval.cl/index.htm/) Naval Academy
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