Aysén Province facts for kids
Aysén Province (Spanish: Provincia de Aysén) is a special part of Chile. It is one of four provinces located in the Aysén region. The main city and capital of Aysén Province is Puerto Aysén.
Quick facts for kids
Aysén Province
Provincia de Aysén
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Location in the Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region
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 Aysén Province
Location in Chile
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| Country | Chile | |
| Region | Aysén | |
| Capital | Puerto Aysén | |
| Communes | Puerto Aysén Cisnes Guaitecas |
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| Government | ||
| • Type | Provincial | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 46,588.8 km2 (17,988.0 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 26,858 | |
| • Density | 0.576490/km2 (1.493104/sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 16,180 | |
| • Rural | 13,451 | |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | |
| Area code(s) | country 56 + area 67 | |
| Website | Government of Aysén | |
Contents
How Many People Live in Aysén?
In 2002, a count of people called a census was done. It showed that 23,498 people lived in Aysén Province. Most of these people, about 16,180, lived in cities or towns. The rest, about 13,451, lived in the countryside.
Aysén Province is very large. It covers about 46,588.8 square kilometers. This makes it the biggest province in its region. It is also the fifth largest province in all of Chile. Even though it's big, it has fewer people than many other provinces.
How Aysén Province is Governed
Aysén Province is an important administrative area in Chile. It is managed by a special leader called a governor. The governor is chosen by the president of Chile.
Currently, Manuel Ortiz Torres is the governor of Aysén Province. He helps to run the province and make sure things work well for the people living there.
Main Towns and Areas
Aysén Province is divided into three smaller areas called communes. Each commune has its own local government. This government is led by a person called an alcalde, which is like a mayor.
The three communes in Aysén Province are:
Each commune has its own size and population. For example, the commune of Aisén is the largest in area and has the most people.
| Commune | Area (km2) | 2002 Population |
Density (km2) | Website |
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| Guaitecas | 787.0 | 1,539 | 2.0 | link |
| Cisnes | 15,831.4 | 5,739 | 0.4 | link |
| Aisén | 29,970.4 | 22,353 | 0.7 | link |
Where Did the Name Aysén Come From?
The name "Aysén" has an interesting history. Some people thought it came from an old map made in 1831. This map was by Captain Robert Fitz-Roy, who explored the coast with Charles Darwin. They might have called the area "Ice End."
However, this idea is probably not true. The name "Aysen" was found in older documents from 1766. These documents were written by an explorer named Father Garcia. This was more than 60 years before Fitz-Roy's trip. Even so, the "Ice End" story is popular with tourists who visit the Patagonia region.
Many people in Aysén Province have different backgrounds. Some have British or German family roots. But most people are Chileans of mestizo Spanish origin. In the early 1900s, the Chilean government encouraged many settlers from the central part of Chile to move here.
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Aysén para niños
