Arauco, Chile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arauco
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| Country | Chile | |||||
| Region | Bío Bío | |||||
| Province | Arauco | |||||
| Founded | 1552 | |||||
| Government | ||||||
| • Type | Municipality | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| • Total | 956.1 km2 (369.2 sq mi) | |||||
| As of 2002 | ||||||
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) | |||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 34,902 | |||||
| • Density | 36.5045/km2 (94.546/sq mi) | |||||
| • Urban | 24,269 | |||||
| • Rural | 10,604 | |||||
| Demonym(s) | Araucano | |||||
| Sex | ||||||
| • Men | 17,603 | |||||
| • Women | 17,270 | |||||
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT) | |||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) | |||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 41 | |||||
| Climate | Csb | |||||
| Website | Official website: http://www.muniarauco.cl/ | |||||
Arauco is a city and a commune (which is like a local government area) in Chile. It is found in the Arauco Province, within the Bío Bío Region. The name "Arauco" comes from the Mapudungun language, meaning "Chalky Water."
This area was once home to the Moluche people. Spanish settlements built here during the Conquest of Chile were often destroyed by the Mapuche people during a long conflict known as the Arauco War.
Contents
History of Arauco
Early Settlements and Conflicts
In 1552, Pedro de Valdivia, who was the first governor of Chile, built a fort here. He named it San Felipe de Rauco or de Araucan. This fort was about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) east of where the city of Arauco is today. It was located near the Carampangue River. Valdivia planned for this fort to be the start of a new city.
However, the Mapuche people destroyed the fort in 1554. It was rebuilt in 1559 by García Hurtado de Mendoza. But it was destroyed again in 1563. Rodrigo de Quiroga rebuilt it once more in 1566, and it became a small town. This town stayed small until it was moved to the current location of Arauco.
Moving to the Coast
In 1590, Governor Don Alonso de Sotomayor moved the town to the coast. It was placed about four kilometers (2.5 miles) southwest of the mouth of the Carampangue River. The land for this new site was given by a local leader named Cacique Colocólo. The new town was called Villa de San Ildefonso de Arauco.
Just six years later, in 1596, Martín García Óñez de Loyola moved the town again to its current spot. He built a fort on a hill called Cerro Colocólo and named the town Ciudad de San Felipe de Araucan.
Challenges and Rebuilding
During the big Mapuche Uprising of 1598, the city was destroyed again. But Governor Alonso de Ribera got it back in 1603. The Mapuche continued to attack the city, and its people had to leave during another major uprising in 1655.
Governors Ángel de Peredo in 1662 and Francisco de Meneses Brito in 1665 helped to recover the city. In 1673, under Governor Don Juan Henríquez de Villalobos, the fort was rebuilt. This fort protected the town until a strong earthquake in 1835 almost completely destroyed it.
Arauco also faced more attacks from the Mapuche during uprisings in 1723 and 1766. During the Chilean War of Independence, the Mapuche and their allies attacked the city on June 4, 1817.
Over time, more people gathered around the fort. Arauco officially became a city on December 7, 1852. Today, it is the capital of the Arauco Province.
Population and People
According to a census taken in 2002, the commune of Arauco covers an area of about 956.1 square kilometers (369.2 square miles). At that time, it had 34,873 people living there.
- About 24,269 people (69.6%) lived in urban areas, which are cities and towns.
- About 10,604 people (30.4%) lived in rural areas, which are the countryside.
The census also showed that there were 17,603 men and 17,270 women. The population of Arauco grew by 17.6% between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
How Arauco is Governed
Arauco is a third-level administrative division of Chile. This means it is a local area managed by a municipal council. The council is led by an alcalde, who is like a mayor. The alcalde is chosen directly by the people every four years. The alcalde from 2008 to 2012 was Mauricio Alarcón Guzmán.
Arauco is part of a larger area for elections. Its people are represented in the Chamber of Deputies by two members. These members also represent other nearby communes like Lota and Lebu. Arauco is also represented in the Senate by two senators.
Climate
Arauco has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
| Climate data for Punta Lavapie | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.4 (68.7) |
20.1 (68.2) |
18.9 (66.0) |
16.8 (62.2) |
15.0 (59.0) |
13.5 (56.3) |
13.0 (55.4) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.3 (59.5) |
17.1 (62.8) |
18.9 (66.0) |
16.3 (61.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.7 (62.1) |
16.4 (61.5) |
15.6 (60.1) |
13.7 (56.7) |
12.3 (54.1) |
11.0 (51.8) |
10.6 (51.1) |
10.5 (50.9) |
11.1 (52.0) |
12.2 (54.0) |
13.7 (56.7) |
15.4 (59.7) |
13.3 (55.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.2 (54.0) |
12.1 (53.8) |
11.8 (53.2) |
10.4 (50.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
8.0 (46.4) |
7.5 (45.5) |
7.2 (45.0) |
7.7 (45.9) |
8.6 (47.5) |
9.7 (49.5) |
11.0 (51.8) |
9.6 (49.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 14.9 (0.59) |
13.7 (0.54) |
39.2 (1.54) |
72.7 (2.86) |
125.8 (4.95) |
153.4 (6.04) |
128.2 (5.05) |
93.2 (3.67) |
68.6 (2.70) |
35.0 (1.38) |
32.2 (1.27) |
27.0 (1.06) |
803.9 (31.65) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 77 | 79 | 81 | 83 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 80 | 79 | 82 |
| Source: Bioclimatografia de Chile | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Arauco (Chile) para niños
