Puerto Varas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Puerto Varas
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View of Puerto Varas with Osorno Volcano and Llanquihue Lake in the background.
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| Country | Chile | |||||
| Region | Los Lagos | |||||
| Province | Llanquihue | |||||
| Founded as | Puerto Varas | |||||
| Founded | 12 February 1854 | |||||
| Government | ||||||
| • Type | Municipality | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| • Total | 4,064.9 km2 (1,569.5 sq mi) | |||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 37,561 | |||||
| • Density | 9.24033/km2 (23.9323/sq mi) | |||||
| • Urban | 24,309 | |||||
| • Rural | 8,603 | |||||
| Demonym(s) | Portovarino | |||||
| Sex | ||||||
| • Men | 16,645 | |||||
| • Women | 16,267 | |||||
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT) | |||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) | |||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 65 | |||||
Puerto Varas is a beautiful city in southern Chile. It's often called "The City of Roses" because of its many flowers. This city is part of the Llanquihue Province in the Los Lagos Region.
Puerto Varas is famous for its German traditions and stunning nature. It's a popular place for tourists to visit. The city is surrounded by mountains, lakes, forests, and national parks. It sits right on the shore of Llanquihue Lake, which is the second largest lake in Chile. From the lake, you can clearly see the cone-shaped Osorno Volcano and the snow-capped peaks of Mount Calbuco and Mount Tronador. Puerto Varas is one of several towns along the western side of Llanquihue Lake.
Contents
History of Puerto Varas
The city of Puerto Varas began in 1853. It was named after Antonio Varas, who was a government minister at the time. German immigrants founded the city. They settled along the shores of Lake Llanquihue. This was part of a special government project to colonize the area. This happened during the time Manuel Montt was president (1851-1861).
The government created the "Llanquihue Lake Colonization Territory" on June 27, 1853. By the end of that year, 212 German families had moved to what would become Puerto Varas. The first area they settled was called La Fabrica. This was where the road from the coast met Llanquihue Lake.
Important moments in the city's early days include opening a Catholic church in 1872. The Deutscher Verein ("German Club") was also founded in 1885. Puerto Varas officially became a "Town" (Título de Villa) in 1897. The area known as the commune of Puerto Varas was formed in December 1925. This happened when the government divided Chile into provinces and communes.
German Architecture
Puerto Varas is known for its unique German-style architecture. Many houses are built from alerce wood. The early settlers brought tools from Europe to build these homes. In 1992, the city was named a "Zona Típica" (heritage zone). This means many buildings are protected.
One famous protected building is the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesus (Sacred Heart of Jesus Church). It was built in 1918 on one of the highest spots in Puerto Varas. This wooden church is a symbol of the city. Other important protected buildings include Casa Kuschel (built in 1915) and Casa Yunge (built in 1932).
Culture and Arts
Puerto Varas has several places to enjoy culture and art. These include the Antonio Felmer Museum and the Molino Machmar Art Centre. You can also visit the Nativo Bosque Gallery and the Pablo Fierro Museum. Nearby, the town of Frutillar hosts the annual Frutillar Musical Weeks. This big music event takes place every January and February.
Delicious German Food
Puerto Varas is famous for its traditional German dishes. One very popular treat is Kuchen, a type of cake. The city even celebrates an annual Kuchen Day on the first Saturday of February! You can also find many other tasty things in the town's shops and cafes. These include craft beers, pastries, chocolates, and homemade marmalades.
Fun for Tourists
Puerto Varas is a very popular place for tourists. People love its special German-inspired buildings. There are many hotels and inns to stay in. The city also has a casino, a beach, and amazing views of the lake and volcanoes.
Visitors can enjoy many outdoor activities. These include kayaking, fishing, and trekking. In winter, there's a ski center on the slopes of Osorno Volcano. Puerto Varas is a great starting point for trips to nearby natural wonders. You can visit the beautiful Todos los Santos Lake and the amazing Petrohué Falls. There are also Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park and Puyehue National Park. You can even take trips to other towns around Llanquihue Lake, like Frutillar and Puerto Octay.
Puerto Varas is also where you can start a special journey across the Andes Mountains to San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. This trip involves both buses and boats. You travel through stunning forested mountains and across shimmering lakes. It's an unforgettable adventure!
Education
Puerto Varas has international schools. One example is the Instituto Aleman Puerto Varas.
Getting Around
The closest airport is El Tepual International Airport near Puerto Montt. Many daily flights arrive here from Santiago. The airport serves over a million passengers each year.
Local Government
Puerto Varas is a commune, which is a local administrative area in Chile. It is managed by a municipal council. The head of the council is an alcalde (mayor), who is elected every four years. The current alcalde is Tomás Garate.
Climate and Weather
Puerto Varas has an oceanic climate. This means it has mild summers and rainy, somewhat cool winters. The city gets a lot of rain each year, about 1762 millimeters on average.
| Climate data for Puerto Varas | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 19.5 (67.1) |
19.0 (66.2) |
17.1 (62.8) |
14.7 (58.5) |
12.2 (54.0) |
10.6 (51.1) |
10.3 (50.5) |
11.0 (51.8) |
12.4 (54.3) |
14.6 (58.3) |
16.2 (61.2) |
18.2 (64.8) |
14.7 (58.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.8 (58.6) |
14.4 (57.9) |
12.8 (55.0) |
10.9 (51.6) |
8.9 (48.0) |
7.7 (45.9) |
7.3 (45.1) |
7.5 (45.5) |
8.5 (47.3) |
10.3 (50.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
13.7 (56.7) |
10.7 (51.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.2 (50.4) |
9.9 (49.8) |
8.6 (47.5) |
7.2 (45.0) |
5.7 (42.3) |
4.8 (40.6) |
4.3 (39.7) |
4.0 (39.2) |
4.6 (40.3) |
6.0 (42.8) |
7.5 (45.5) |
9.2 (48.6) |
6.8 (44.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 77 (3.0) |
84 (3.3) |
120 (4.7) |
152 (6.0) |
242 (9.5) |
233 (9.2) |
217 (8.5) |
186 (7.3) |
143 (5.6) |
111 (4.4) |
106 (4.2) |
91 (3.6) |
1,762 (69.3) |
| Source: Climate-data.org | |||||||||||||
Photo gallery
- Puerto Varas, Chile
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Tourist information centre
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The wooden Sacred Heart Church, now almost 100 years old
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Typical wooden architecture
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Dawn over Llanquihue Lake
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La Burbuja Ski Center
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Llanquihue Lake and Osorno Volcano, Puerto Varas
See also
In Spanish: Puerto Varas para niños
