Valparaíso funiculars facts for kids
The city of Valparaíso in Chile has 16 old elevators. These are called ascensores in Spanish. Most of them are actually funiculars. Funiculars are like small trains that go up and down hills on tracks. Only one, the Ascensor Polanco, is a true vertical elevator. These unique lifts were mostly built a long time ago, between the late 1800s and early 1900s.
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What are Valparaíso's Funiculars?
Valparaíso is famous for its many hills. Because of this, the city once had as many as 30 ascensores. Today, 16 of these old lifts still exist. They are very important and are known as National Monuments of Chile. As of 2018, only 7 of them were working. The other 9 are being fixed up and made modern again.
These special ascensores are part of a bigger area called the Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso. This area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. This means it's a place of great importance to the world.
Why are Funiculars Important in Valparaíso?
The funiculars help people travel easily between the lower part of the city, called the plan, and the homes on the steep hills. They are a key part of daily life and the history of Valparaíso.
List of Valparaíso's Historic Lifts
Here is a list of the known elevators in Valparaíso, including both funiculars and the one true elevator.
| Name | Hill name | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrayán | Cerro Santo Domingo | 1905 | Closed in 1964 |
| Artillería | Cerro Artillería | 1893 | Active since December 2014 |
| Barón | Cerro Barón | 1906 | Active |
| Bellavista | Cerro Bellavista | 1897 | Closed in 1955 |
| Concepción | Cerro Concepción | 1883 | Active |
| Cordillera | Cerro Cordillera | 1887 | Active |
| El Hogar | 1912 | Closed in 1955 | |
| El Peral | Cerro Alegre | 1902 | Active |
| Esmeralda | Cerro Concepción | 1905 | Closed in 1962 |
| Espíritu Santo | 1911 | Active since April 2018 | |
| Florida | 1906 | Inactive | |
| Hospital Carlos van Buren | 1929 | Active | |
| La Cruz | Cerro La Cruz | 1908 | Closed in 1992 |
| Larraín | Cerro Rodríguez | 1906 | Inactive |
| Monjas | 1912 | Inactive | |
| Lecheros | 1906 | Inactive | |
| Mariposas | Cerro Mariposas | 1904 | Inactive |
| Panteón | 1900 | Closed in 1952 | |
| Perdices | Cerro Arrayán | 1932 | Closed in 1962 |
| Placeres | Cerro Placeres | 1913 | Closed in 1971 |
| Polanco | Cerro Polanco | 1913-1916 | Active (This is the only true vertical elevator) |
| Ramaditas | 1914 | Closed in 1955 | |
| Reina Victoria | Cerro Alegre | 1902 | Active |
| San Agustin | Cerro Cordillera | 1913 | Active |
| Santo Domingo | Cerro Santo Domingo | 1910 | Closed in 1965 |
| Villaseca | Cerro Artillería | 1907 | Inactive |
| Villanelo | 1983 | Active (This one is in Viña del Mar, a nearby city) |
See also
In Spanish: Ascensores de Valparaíso para niños
