Curaco de Vélez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Curaco de Vélez
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| Country | Chile | ||||
| Region | Los Lagos | ||||
| Province | Chiloé | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Municipality | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 80.0 km2 (30.9 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 79 m (259 ft) | ||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 3,584 | ||||
| • Density | 44.80/km2 (116.03/sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 0 | ||||
| • Rural | 3,403 | ||||
| Sex | |||||
| • Men | 1,642 | ||||
| • Women | 1,761 | ||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 65 | ||||
| Website | Municipality of Curaco de Vélez | ||||
Curaco de Vélez is a small town in Chile. It is part of the Chiloé Archipelago, a group of islands. This town is located on the western side of Quinchao Island. The eastern part of the island belongs to another town called Quinchao.
Contents
What is the history of Curaco de Vélez?
Curaco de Vélez is famous for its connection to several important Chilean sailors. These brave people played a big part in Chile's history.
Famous Sailors from Curaco de Vélez
One famous person was Admiral Galvarino Riveros Cárdenas. He was born in a place called Changüitad. Throughout his career, he sailed along the entire coast of Chile. He completed many important missions for his country.
Admiral Riveros was a hero in the War of the Pacific in 1879. This was a conflict between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. In January 1881, he led his ships to protect the army. His actions helped defeat the Peruvian forces. This led to the surrender of the cities of Lima and Callao.
Another important figure was Carlos Miller Norton. He was the navigator of a ship called the Goleta Ancud. In 1843, this ship officially claimed the Strait of Magellan for Chile. This was a very important moment for the country.
Hydrographer and explorer Francisco Hudson also came from Curaco de Vélez. A hydrographer is someone who studies and maps bodies of water. Hudson explored many areas, helping to create better maps.
What makes Curaco de Vélez architecture special?
The buildings in Curaco de Vélez have a unique style. This style is typical of the Chiloé Archipelago. It uses special features like balconies and lookouts. These designs make the buildings look simple and original.
Early Buildings in Curaco de Vélez
In 1660, the Jesuits, a religious group, noticed simple homes here. The first buildings were made from wood and straw. They were built without much planning. By 1724, about 262 people lived here in 33 families.
At the start of the 1900s, the town was still small and didn't have many streets. In 1901, Bishop Ramón Angel Jara helped the town grow. He worked to create a better structure for its future.
Unique Churches of Chiloé
The churches in Curaco de Vélez are very old. Some were built in the 1700s and 1800s. They show the strong faith of the people. These churches are made from special local wood. They use wood from strong alerce and cypress trees.
How many people live in Curaco de Vélez?
According to a census in 2002, Curaco de Vélez covers an area of 80 square kilometers (about 31 square miles). It had 3,403 people living there at that time. This included 1,642 men and 1,761 women.
The commune is considered an entirely rural area. This means most people live in the countryside, not in a big city. Between 1992 and 2002, the population grew by 12.6%. This was an increase of 382 people.
How is Curaco de Vélez governed?
Curaco de Vélez is a commune, which is a type of local government area in Chile. It is managed by a municipal council. The council is led by an alcalde, which is like a mayor. The alcalde is chosen directly by the people every four years.
The alcalde from 2008 to 2012 was Luis Curumilla Sotomayor. He belonged to the Christian Democratic Party.
Political Representation
Curaco de Vélez is part of a larger area for elections. For the Chamber of Deputies, which is like one part of Chile's parliament, Curaco de Vélez is in the 58th electoral district. This district also includes many other towns like Castro and Ancud.
For the Senate, which is the other part of Chile's parliament, Curaco de Vélez is in the 17th senatorial constituency. This constituency covers the entire Los Lagos Region.
See also
In Spanish: Curaco de Vélez para niños
