Curacautín facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Curacautín
Fuerte Curacautín
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View of Curacautín
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| Country | Chile | ||||
| Region | Araucanía Region | ||||
| Province | Malleco Province | ||||
| Established | March 12, 1882 | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Municipality | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 1,664.0 km2 (642.5 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 542 m (1,778 ft) | ||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 16,508 | ||||
| • Density | 9.9207/km2 (25.6944/sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 12,412 | ||||
| • Rural | 4,558 | ||||
| Demonym(s) | Curacautinense(s) | ||||
| Sex | |||||
| • Men | 8310 | ||||
| • Women | 8660 | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) | ||||
| Postal Code |
4700000
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| Area code(s) | 56 + 45 | ||||
| Website | Municipality of Curacautín | ||||
Curacautín is a city and commune in Chile. Its name means "Gathering Stone" in Mapudungun, the language of the Mapuche people. The city is located in the Malleco Province.
Curacautín is about 90 kilometers northeast of Temuco. It sits in a valley surrounded by volcanoes. You can see Tolhuaca, Lonquimay, and Llaima volcanoes from the city. Historically, this area was an important route. It was used by the Pehuenche people. They traveled across the Andes mountains.
Contents
Natural Beauty of Curacautín
This area is famous for its amazing natural environment. It has beautiful landscapes and important parks.
National Parks and Reserves
Several national parks and reserves are close to Curacautín. These include the Conguillío and Tolhuaca National Parks. You can also find the Malleco and Malalcahuello-Nalcas National Reserves nearby. These places are perfect for exploring nature.
History of Curacautín
Curacautín has an interesting past, starting as a fort and growing into a city.
Founding and Early Growth
The fort at Curacautín was established on March 12, 1882. It was founded by Gregorio Urrutia. Between 1913 and 1915, two important buildings were constructed. These were the railroad and the Greater City Hall.
The Mosso Plywood Factory
In 1938, the Mosso plywood factory started production. It was the first factory in Chile to export plywood. This factory, along with the railroad, helped send products all over Chile and other countries. The Mosso factory was a major employer in the commune. It had a big impact on the city's life. In 2000, FOCURA, which was formerly Mosso, went out of business. This marked the end of an important era for Curacautín.
Sustainable Wood Production
Wood from the forests of the Curacautín Valley became very special. In 2011, it was the first product to be certified by two important groups. These were the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Fairtrade International (FLO). This means the wood was harvested responsibly and traded fairly. A Swedish company called Kährs used this wood for commercial products.
People of Curacautín
Understanding the population helps us learn about the city.
Population Data
According to the 2002 census by the National Statistics Institute, Curacautín covers an area of 1,664.0 square kilometers. It had 16,970 inhabitants at that time. There were 8,310 men and 8,660 women.
Most people, about 12,412 (73.1%), lived in urban areas. The remaining 4,558 (26.9%) lived in rural areas. Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population decreased by 6.4%. This was a drop of 1,165 people.
How Curacautín is Governed
Curacautín is managed as a commune. This means it is a third-level administrative division of Chile.
Local Government
The commune is run by a municipal council. This council is led by an alcalde (mayor). The alcalde is chosen directly by the people every four years. From 2008 to 2012, the alcalde was Jorge Saquel Albarran. He was an Independent politician.
National Representation
Curacautín is part of a larger electoral district. This district sends representatives to the national government.
- Chamber of Deputies: Curacautín is represented in the Chamber of Deputies. Its representatives are Enrique Estay (UDI) and Fuad Chahín (PDC). They are part of the 49th electoral district. This district also includes cities like Victoria, Lonquimay, Melipeuco, Vilcún, Lautaro, Perquenco, and Galvarino.
- Senate: The commune is also represented in the Senate. Its senators are Alberto Espina Otero (RN) and Jaime Quintana Leal (PPD). They represent the 14th senatorial constituency, known as Araucanía-North.
See also
In Spanish: Curacautín para niños
