Colchagua Province

Colchagua Province
Provincia de Colchagua
Province

Government of Colchagua's headquarters

Seal
Location in the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region
Location in the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region
Location in Chile
Colchagua Province

Location in Chile

Coordinates: 34°41′S 71°09′W / 34.683°S 71.150°W / -34.683; -71.150Coordinates: 34°41′S 71°09′W / 34.683°S 71.150°W / -34.683; -71.150
Country Chile
Region O'Higgins
Capital San Fernando
Communes
Government
 • Type Provincial
Area[1]
 • Total 5,678.0 km2 (2,192.3 sq mi)
Area rank 2
Population (2012 Census)[1]
 • Total 210,528
 • Rank 2
 • Density 37/km2 (96/sq mi)
 • Urban 115,043
 • Rural 81,523
Sex[1]
 • Men 98,982
 • Women 97,584
Time zone CLT [2] (UTC-4)
 • Summer (DST) CLST [3] (UTC-3)
Area code(s) 56 + 72
Website Government of Colchagua

Colchagua Province (Spanish: Provincia de Colchagua) is one of three provinces of the central Chilean region of O'Higgins (VI). Its capital is San Fernando. It is bordered on the north by Cachapoal Province, on the east by the Argentine Republic, on the south by Curicó Province, and on the west by Cardenal Caro Province.

Geography and demography

The area of Colchagua is officially estimated at 5,678 km2 (2,192 sq mi) with a population (2002 census) at 196,566. Extending across the central valley of Chile, the province has a considerable area devoted to traditional agriculture and wine-growing. Its principal rivers are the Rapel River and its tributary, the Tinguiririca.

The principal towns are San Fernando, the provincial capital, Santa Cruz, Chimbarongo, Nancagua and Palmilla. San Fernando is one of the several towns founded in 1742 by the governor-general José Antonio Manso de Velasco, and it had a population of 64,000 in 2002.

Administration

As a province, Colchagua is a second-level administrative division of Chile, governed by a provincial governor who is appointed by the president. The province comprises eleven communes, each governed by a municipality consisting of an alcalde and municipal council.

Transport

The state central railway (EFE) from Santiago to the south crosses the province and has a regular stop in San Fernando. It used to have a branch running from San Fernando via Palmilla to Pichilemu on the coast. This is now closed, although one section of it has recently opened a limited service aimed at the tourist trade.

The more local Metrotrén service runs between Santiago and San Fernando stopping at most of the towns in between. There are frequent trains between these two points.

The Pan-American Highway runs through the San Fernando commune, passing close to the east side of the town.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 (Spanish) Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas
  2. ↑ "Chile Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  3. ↑ "Chile Summer Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on 2007-09-11. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
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