Cañete, Chile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cañete
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Clava symbol
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| Nickname(s):
The Historic City
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| Country | Chile | ||||
| Region | Biobío | ||||
| Province | Arauco | ||||
| Founded as | Cañete de la Frontera | ||||
| Founded | January, 1558 | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Municipality | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 760.4 km2 (293.6 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 80 m (260 ft) | ||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 31,805 | ||||
| • Density | 41.827/km2 (108.331/sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 19,839 | ||||
| • Rural | 11,431 | ||||
| Demonym(s) | Cañetino | ||||
| Sex | |||||
| • Men | 15,625 | ||||
| • Women | 15,645 | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) | ||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 41 | ||||
| Website | Official website: http://www.cañete.cl/ | ||||
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Cañete is a city and a commune in Chile. It is located in the Arauco Province of the Biobío Region. The city is about 135 kilometers (84 miles) south of Concepción. Cañete is known as a "Historic City" because it is one of the oldest cities in Chile. Important events like the Battle of Tucapel and the death of Pedro de Valdivia happened near here. Cañete was also a key place during the Arauco War.
Contents
History
What's in a Name?
Cañete was first called "Cañete de la Frontera" when it was founded in 1558. Governor García Hurtado de Mendoza started the city. He named it after his father, Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza, 3rd Marquis of Cañete. The family's title came from a town in Spain called Cañete.
Fort Tucapel
The area was originally known as Tucapel. This word means taking by force in the Mapudungun language. In October 1553, Pedro de Valdivia built Fort Tucapel close to where Cañete is today. Just two months later, the native Mapuche people destroyed the fort.
Valdivia came back on December 25, 1553, to rebuild it. But the Spanish army lost again in the Battle of Tucapel. This was an early battle in the Arauco War. Valdivia was captured and died during this time.
Cañete de la Frontera
In January 1558, Governor García Hurtado de Mendoza founded the city again. He named it Cañete de la Frontera. It was about three kilometers (1.9 miles) west of the current city. Hurtado de Mendoza made Alonso de Reinoso the leader, or corregidor, of Cañete.
The Mapuches, led by Caupolican, surrounded the city. But they were defeated in the Battle of the Fort of Cañete. Later, more military losses forced Governor Francisco de Villagra to leave the city in January 1563. Three years later, a new city was started by Rodrigo de Quiroga. However, it also failed because of constant attacks from the Mapuches.
Refounding the City
The city you see today was founded on November 12, 1868. Colonel Cornelio Saavedra Rodríguez started it. This was part of a plan to bring peace to the Araucanía region.
Cañete in the 21st Century
On November 12, 2006, a serious bus accident happened near Cañete. A bus with 28 people fell into the Tucapel River. Sadly, 19 passengers died. Most of the victims were soldiers traveling for a celebration. This event was called the "tragedy of Cañete" by the news. Important leaders, including President Michelle Bachelet, visited Concepción for the funerals.
The 2010 Chilean earthquake caused a lot of damage in Cañete. The Kallvu Llanka hospital, which was being built, was badly hit. This delayed its opening for three years, from 2010 to 2013.
Demography
Cañete covers an area of about 760.4 square kilometers (293.6 square miles). According to the 2002 census, it had 31,270 people living there. This included 15,625 men and 15,645 women. About 63.4% of the people (19,839) lived in city areas. The other 36.6% (11,431) lived in country areas. The population grew by 6.6% between 1992 and 2002. Experts thought the population would be around 33,535 people by 2009.
Administration
Cañete is a commune, which is the smallest local government area in Chile. It is managed by a municipal council. The council is led by an alcalde (mayor). The mayor is chosen by the people every four years. There is also a six-member council that helps the mayor. The Cañete municipality is part of a group called the Association of Municipalities of the Arauco Province.
In Chile's election system, Cañete is part of the 46th electoral district. This means its people vote for two members in the Chamber of Deputies. These are Manuel Monsalve and Iván Norambuena. Cañete is also part of the 13th senatorial area. This means its people vote for two senators, Víctor Pérez Varela and Felipe Harboe Bascuñán.
Transportation
Las Misiones Airport is located north of Cañete. The city also has several bus stations in the downtown area. These include Pedro de Valdivia terminal, Jeldres terminal, and Biobio-Jota Ewert terminal. You can take buses from here to cities like Santiago, Concepción, and Temuco.
Human Resources
Education
Cañete has 34 schools for primary and secondary education. Twenty-four of these schools are public. Some of the well-known schools are Liceo Gabriela Mistral, Instituto San José, and Liceo B-56. For higher education, students can go to the Technological Institute of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception. There is also the CFT Lota Arauco, which is part of the University of Concepción.
Culture
Museums
The Mapuche Museum of Cañete is in the southern part of the city. It has been open since 1968. It teaches visitors about the history and culture of the Mapuche people.
Rural Culture
Every year, usually in January or February, Cañete hosts a big fair. It's called the Agricultural, Livestock and Forestry Fair (FAGAF). This fair takes place on the Anike farm, just two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the city. It is considered the largest fair of its kind in the region. It's also one of the most important farming events in Chile.
More than a hundred exhibitors usually attend the fair. There are many activities like threshing (separating grain), showing off farm machines, and cooking contests. The fair also celebrates local culture. It shows off Mapuche and Chilean farm traditions. Since 2015, the fair has been held at the same time as Cañete Week. This week includes performances by singers, music groups, and comedians. Another event, the Farmer Fest of Cayucupil, happens about 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) from the city center in a rural area.
Movies
Cañete is becoming more involved in movies and entertainment. The Lebu International Film Festival is based in the city. Also, the 2014 movie Whispers of the Forest by Jorge Olguín was filmed near Cañete. The main filming spots were Reussland Park and Morales Castle, which is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) north of the city.
Notable People
- Juan Antonio Ríos (1888-1946) – A Chilean politician and lawyer. He was the President of Chile from 1942 to 1946.
- Clímaco Hermosilla (born 1944) – A Chilean professor, historian, and writer.
Images for kids
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Clava symbol
See also
In Spanish: Cañete (Chile) para niños
