Puerto Montt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Puerto Montt
Meli Pulli
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1st row: Pelluco, spa and tourist town in the commune of Puerto Montt. 2nd row: Night panoramic view of downtown Puerto Montt. 3rd row: Monument to Vicente Pérez Rosales, and eruption of the Calbuco volcano from the city. 4th row: On the left, Bell Tower of the Society of Jesus; on the right-top, Church of the Jesuit Fathers; to the right-below, Chinquihue stadium.
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| Country | Chile | |||||
| Region | Los Lagos | |||||
| Province | Llanquihue | |||||
| Founded as | Melipulli | |||||
| Founded | 12 February 1853 | |||||
| Named for | Manuel Montt | |||||
| Government | ||||||
| • Type | Municipality | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| • Total | 1,673.0 km2 (645.9 sq mi) | |||||
| Elevation | 14 m (46 ft) | |||||
| Population
(2017 Census)
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| • Total | 245,902 | |||||
| • Density | 146.983/km2 (380.683/sq mi) | |||||
| • Urban | 220,143 | |||||
| • Rural | 25,759 | |||||
| Demonym(s) | Puertomontino -a or Melipullian |
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| Sex | ||||||
| • Men | 121,019 | |||||
| • Women | 124,883 | |||||
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT) | |||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) | |||||
| Postal code |
5480000
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| Area code(s) | 56 + 65 | |||||
| Climate | Cfb | |||||
| Website | Official website: http://www.puertomonttchile.cl | |||||
Puerto Montt is a busy port city and a local government area (called a commune) in southern Chile. It sits at the top end of the Reloncaví Sound. The city is about 1,055 kilometers (656 miles) south of Chile's capital, Santiago.
This area covers about 1,673 square kilometers (646 square miles) and had a population of 245,902 people in 2017. Puerto Montt is surrounded by other communes like Puerto Varas to the north and Calbuco to the southwest.
The city was founded in 1853 during a time when many Germans moved to southern Chile. Puerto Montt quickly grew because it was in a great spot. It became a main entry point to places like the Chiloé Archipelago, Llanquihue Lake, and Western Patagonia.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Puerto Montt became very important because Chile grew to be the world's second-largest producer of salmon. This brought a lot of jobs and growth to the city. However, a crisis in the salmon farming industry in the late 2000s caused many people to lose their jobs. This showed that the local economy relied too much on just one industry.
Puerto Montt has a mix of Chilean-Spanish culture and German traditions. Over the last 30 years, many people from other parts of Chile have moved here looking for work.
Contents
History of Puerto Montt
Originally, the area where Puerto Montt now stands was covered by thick forests. The local Mapuche people called it Melipulli, which means "four hills." This spot was chosen as a way to reach Lake Llanquihue because it was close to the open sea.
Founding the City
The plan to settle the area was first given to Bernardo Philippi, a German scientist. After he passed away in 1851, Vicente Perez Rosales took over. By September, he started cutting down trees around the Reloncaví Sound with help from local workers. In December, after the trees were cleared, the land was burned to prepare it for building.
The city was officially founded on February 12, 1853. This happened after the Chilean government encouraged people from Germany to move to the region starting in 1848. This immigration helped the area become part of the rest of Chile. The city was named after Manuel Montt, who was the President of Chile from 1851 to 1861 and started the German immigration program.
Growth and Challenges
In 1912, a train line connected Puerto Montt to Santiago. This made the city a very important place for people and goods entering Chilean Patagonia, helping its businesses grow. By 1950, Puerto Montt had about 27,500 people and was quickly becoming a modern city.
However, a very strong earthquake in 1960 caused a lot of damage in Puerto Montt. The port, the train station, and many buildings and homes were destroyed. But the city recovered and once again became a key urban center and a vital port for Chile.
Puerto Montt in Recent Times
In 1979, Puerto Montt was chosen to be the capital of the Los Lagos Region. This made it the main center for government, politics, and business in Southern Chile.
By 1982, the commune had grown to 103,680 people. From the late 1980s, the city started to grow even faster. This was mainly because the Chilean salmon farming industry set up its main operations here.
Population of Puerto Montt
According to the 2017 census, Puerto Montt has 245,902 residents. This includes 121,019 men and 124,883 women. Most people, 220,143, live in city areas, while 25,759 live in rural areas. The population grew by 12.36% (27,044 people) since the 2012 census.
Indigenous Communities
About 52,483 people in Puerto Montt belong to indigenous groups. The largest group is the Mapuche, with 50,247 people. Other indigenous groups include the Aymara people, Rapa Nui people, and Kawésqar.
Immigrants in the City
About 1.46% of the population, which is 3,595 people, are immigrants. Many of them come from other South American countries like Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela. There are also immigrants from Peru, Ecuador, and other parts of the world.
Climate and Weather
Puerto Montt has a wet oceanic climate. This means it gets a lot of rain throughout the year, but there is a bit less rain in the summer. Even though temperatures usually stay below 25°C (77°F), it rarely freezes. Freezing temperatures happen only a few times a month in winter.
Puerto Montt is cooler in summer compared to other places at the same distance from the equator. This is because of the cool ocean currents nearby. Also, there isn't a large landmass at these latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, which helps keep summer temperatures lower.
| Climate data for Puerto Montt (El Tepual Airport) 1991–2020, extremes 1964–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.7 (94.5) |
35.1 (95.2) |
31.6 (88.9) |
25.8 (78.4) |
20.8 (69.4) |
20.0 (68.0) |
20.9 (69.6) |
19.9 (67.8) |
24.2 (75.6) |
24.8 (76.6) |
28.1 (82.6) |
30.4 (86.7) |
35.1 (95.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.0 (68.0) |
19.9 (67.8) |
18.1 (64.6) |
15.1 (59.2) |
12.9 (55.2) |
10.5 (50.9) |
10.2 (50.4) |
11.2 (52.2) |
12.9 (55.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
16.5 (61.7) |
18.5 (65.3) |
15.0 (59.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) |
14.1 (57.4) |
12.6 (54.7) |
10.4 (50.7) |
8.9 (48.0) |
7.1 (44.8) |
6.4 (43.5) |
7.1 (44.8) |
8.1 (46.6) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
13.1 (55.6) |
10.3 (50.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.2 (48.6) |
8.9 (48.0) |
8.1 (46.6) |
6.5 (43.7) |
5.7 (42.3) |
4.4 (39.9) |
3.5 (38.3) |
3.8 (38.8) |
4.1 (39.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
6.9 (44.4) |
8.3 (46.9) |
6.2 (43.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.8 (33.4) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 77.3 (3.04) |
69.0 (2.72) |
99.3 (3.91) |
141.9 (5.59) |
181.3 (7.14) |
213.4 (8.40) |
177.4 (6.98) |
174.9 (6.89) |
115.5 (4.55) |
120.7 (4.75) |
102.1 (4.02) |
92.8 (3.65) |
1,565.6 (61.64) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.7 | 8.3 | 11.5 | 14.3 | 16.2 | 19.2 | 18.0 | 18.2 | 15.3 | 15.1 | 12.8 | 11.4 | 170.0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 79 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 88 | 85 | 83 | 81 | 80 | 85 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 237.6 | 210.3 | 169.7 | 114.7 | 77.5 | 53.2 | 74.5 | 102.8 | 131.2 | 158.8 | 175.9 | 207.0 | 1,713.2 |
| Source 1: Dirección Meteorológica de Chile | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (precipitation days 1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
Economy and Industries
Puerto Montt is the capital of the Los Lagos Region and the Llanquihue Province. It is also the most important seaport at the southern end of Chile's mainland. The city serves as the main center for business, services, and finance in Chile's Northern Patagonia.
The city is also the main entry point to the Chiloé Archipelago and Chiloé Island, which are located across the Chacao Channel. Many other smaller islands in Chile's inland Sea of Chiloé are also reached from Puerto Montt.
Today, the city's economy relies on farming, raising cattle, and forestry on the nearby islands. Fishing and salmon farming in the fjords and the Pacific Ocean are also very important.
Economic History
In the 1800s, before and after Puerto Montt was founded, the main business was cutting down and selling wood, especially larch trees. Other early businesses included making alcohol, grain oil, and beer. The city was crucial for moving goods in and out of the area, as the sea was the only way to transport products until the train arrived in 1912.
Salmon Farming Industry
Puerto Montt is the center of one of the world's largest salmon farming industries. Many places where salmon are raised, caught, and packed are located south of the city. Fresh salmon is flown daily to markets around the world, and frozen salmon is shipped by sea. The huge growth of the region, mainly due to the salmon industry, but also from growing forestry, cattle, and tourism, shows how much economic potential Puerto Montt and its surrounding area have.
Transportation Hub
El Tepual Airport is the main airport for Puerto Montt. Three airlines offer regular flights to and from major cities like Santiago, Punta Arenas, and Antofagasta. The flight to Santiago takes about two hours.
There is also another airport, Marcel Marchant Aerodrome (La Paloma). This airport connects the city to more distant places within the Patagonian Fjords.
City Government
As a commune, Puerto Montt is a local government area in Chile. It is managed by a municipal council, which is led by an Alcalde (mayor) and 10 council members.
The current mayor since 2012 is Gervoy Paredes Rojas. He was reelected in 2016. The council members represent different political parties and work together to manage the city.
Puerto Montt is also represented in Chile's national government. It has 5 members in the Chamber of Deputies and 2 members in the Senate. There is also a Regional Council with 6 members who help make decisions for the wider region.
Education in Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt has 175 registered schools. These schools offer different levels of education, including pre-school, primary school, and secondary school. There are also special schools, technical-professional schools, and adult schools.
Some examples of schools include:
- Arabe Siria School: A Catholic public school for pre-school and primary students.
- Alerce Rural School: A Catholic public school that also helps children with special needs.
- Angelmo Elementary School: A public school from pre-school to primary level, also supporting children with special needs.
- Adventist Private School: A religious private school owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
- The British School Patagonia: A private school from pre-school to secondary school.
- Pumahue School: A private school from pre-school to secondary school.
- Salesiano Padre Jose Fernández Perez: A Catholic private school that also offers technical and adult education.
- Deutsche Schule (German Institute): A private German school with international exchange programs.
- Industrial Lyceum of Puerto Montt: A public secondary school focused on technical jobs.
- Lafquen Montessori School: A private school using the Montessori method.
- Mother Isabel Larragaña Adult school: A Catholic private school for adults to complete primary and secondary education.
- Joaquin de los Andes Auditory and Language Special School: A private school for pre-school children with language difficulties or deafness.
Universities in Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt is also home to several universities, offering higher education:
- Universidad de Los Lagos, Campus Puerto Montt
- Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh), Campus Puerto Montt
- Universidad San Sebastián, Campus Patagonia
- Universidad Santo Tomás, Campus Puerto Montt
Notable People from Puerto Montt
Many talented people have come from Puerto Montt, including:
- Bordemar: A group known for their traditional folk music.
- Raúl Ruiz: A famous filmmaker.
- Enrique Paris: A doctor and politician who served as Chile's Minister of Health.
- María Luisa Cordero: A television presenter and psychologist.
- Rodolfo Stange: A politician who was a senator and part of the government during a military period in Chile.
Images for kids
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The city of Puerto Montt in 1862.
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Angelmó.
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Chinquihue Stadium.
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View of Puerto Montt's sea-side downtown in foreground and Osorno volcano in the background.
See also
In Spanish: Puerto Montt para niños
