Bío-Bío Region
Encyclopedia
The VIII Biobío Region , one of the fifteen first-order administrative division
s in Chile
, comprises four provinces: Arauco
, Biobio
, Concepción
, and Ñuble
.
The capital of the Region is Concepción
. Other important cities include Chillán
, Coronel, Chile
, Hualpén
, Los Ángeles
, and Talcahuano
.
, on the east by Argentina
, on the north by the Chilean Region of Maule
, and on the south by the Chilean Region of Araucanía
.
The Region has been hit by many Chilean earthquakes, including the most powerful earthquake ever recorded (in 1960) and the great earthquake of 2010
.
Many communities in the region were greatly affected by the earthquake of 2010 and the subsequent tsunami. That earthquake damaged Talcahuano and Dichato
; the tsunami destroyed much of what remained.
and culture of Chile
. Many patriots who fought for independence, presidents
, politicians, and artists, like pianist Claudio Arrau
and folklorist Violeta Parra
, were born here.
This is an inland valley between the cities of Concepción and Los Angeles, and it felt the greatest impact of the earthquake of February 27, 2010
. The Department of Rere was a vital settlement area of Chileans and the three-hundred-year struggle (until the 1870s) to defeat the strong indigenous tribe of the Mapuche
s.
Chilean settlers of Spanish California from the present Region of the Biobío (especially from Concepción, Talcahuano, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and the Department of Rere) may have played a part in the establishment of Los Angeles, California
, and the rest of southern California
in the period between 1775 and 1820.
Thousands of Chilean miners, ranchers, and shopkeepers from the Biobío region are thought to have settled the coasts, mountains, and valleys of what became American California, both before and after the Mexican-American War, and to have helped create the cities of San Francisco, San Jose
Santa Barbara
, and San Diego, California
.
The 2002 census showed an urban population of 1,528,306 inhabitants, corresponding to 82.1% of regional population and a rural population of 333,256 inhabitants, equivalent to 17.9% of the population of the region. Of the 1,861,562 inhabitants of the region of Bio Bio in 2002, 915,200, the 49.16% were men and 946,362 inhabitants, 50.84% women.
The metropolitan area of Concepción is one of the most populated conurbations in the country with a population of 979.937 inhabitants, corresponding to the sum of the population of the ten districts of Greater Concepción: Concepción (216.061 inhab.) Talcahuano (250.348 inhab.) , Hualpén (88.046 inhabitants), San Pedro de la Paz (80.447 hab.) Chiguayante (81.302 hab.) Colonel (95.528 hab.) Lota (49.089 hab.) Penco (46.016 hab.) Tomé (52.440 hab.) and Hualqui (20.660 hab.).
Another of the most populated cities in the region are Chillán, with 165.528 inhabitants, is the tenth most populous urban area in the country, and is a conurbation with a portion of its population living in urban areas of the town of Chillán (146.701 inhabitants), and another that lives in the urban area of the town of Chillán Viejo (18.827 inhabitants), and Los Angeles, with its 166.556 inhabitants, is the eighteenth most populous urban area in the country.
With regard to the Province of Ñuble, besides the city of Chillán, other important cities are: San Carlos, with 29.359 inhabitants, Bulnes with 10.681 inhabitants, and Yungay, with 9288 inhabitants, all of these located in the Intermediate Depression, and Coelemu, with 9845 inhabitants, located in the Cordillera de la Costa, near the Rio Itata.
With regard to the Province of Biobío, in addition to Los Angeles, other major cities are: Mulchén with 21.819 inhabitants, Birth to 20.884 inhabitants, the conurbation La Laja-San Rosendo, with a total population of 19.537 inhabitants, with 11.947 inhabitants in Cabrero.
With regard to the Province of Arauco, the most populated cities are: Curanilahue with 30.126 inhabitants, Lebu, the provincial capital, with 20.838 inhabitants, with 19.839 inhabitants Canete, Arauco with 16.291 inhabitants, and Los Alamos with 13035 inhabitants.
With regard to membership or Indigenous Native Peoples, 52.918 people declared in the census of 2002, as Mapuche
, this is a 2.84% of regional population and used the relationship P(aternal) = Female: Amerindian, to determine the racial classification of persons identified as Mapuche.
, Maule
and O'Higgins Region
s, the population of Biobío are thought to be remarkably homogeneous in culture, but are of diverse ethnic and racial origins. About two-thirds of the population are Mestizo
or part-Amerindian, but about ninety percent have some level and form of Europe
an ancestry. There is a romanticized symbol of Chilenidad the huaso
or '"cowhand/shepherd" culture typical of Chile.
Large numbers of Andalusian
, Asturian
, Basque
, Galician
, Leonese, Murcian
, Navarrese, and Valencian
nationalities other than the "Castilian
" Spanish
who established the nation and culture and gave the Spanish
language to Chile.
Non-Spanish settlement of the region includes Germans from Germany, Austria and Switzerland; French
and Italians whom contributed to the regional wine industry; British
peoples like English
and Scottish
have densely settled Concepción on the coast; the Dutch
, Greek and Portuguese
founded the oceanic fishing industry; Arab peoples like the Lebanese
and Palestinians
established several small businesses; and small scattering of U.S. Americans, Scandinavians
and Eastern Europeans mostly from the former Soviet Union
, Czechoslovakia
and Yugoslavia
(esp. Croats
) establish themselves in Chile as they fled political turmoil.
, equivalent to 805.517 people, the third largest concentration of Catholics in a region in Chile, while the lowest percentage of Catholics corresponding to a region nationwide. But, 28.36% declare themselves as Protestant or Evangelical, equivalent to 389 632 people, the second largest concentration of Protestants in a region, while the highest percentage of Evangelicals corresponding to a region nationwide.
The province of Arauco
is the only province to national level, in which the number of Evangelicals, corresponding to 47.47% of the population is greater than that of Catholics, corresponding to 36.33% of the population. It is a result of Protestant (Lutheran and Calvinist), Jehovah's Witnesses
, Seventh-day Adventist and Mormon missionary work in Arauco during the 20th century.
Biobío tends to show a more cultural conservative attitude in contrast to the urban areas of Santiago/Valparaiso have a more liberal cosmopolitan position. It is more common for residents to attend church regularly, be it Catholic and Protestant.
, Lirquén, and Coronel, the greatest concentration of ports in Chile. The range of activities is broad, extending from iron and steel
making to foodstuffs
manufacture, petrochemicals, metalworking, oil refining, and shipyards.
The region’s dynamism is also rooted in its large rivers. The important hydroelectric power complex on the Laja River
is composed of the El Toro, Abanico, and Antuco power plants, and the Pangue and Ralco plants on the upper Biobío River. These facilities supply 26.6% of the energy used from Taltal
in the north to Chiloé Archipelago
2500 km (1,553 mi) to the south.
The region contains almost 44% of Chile’s forest plantations, of which around 82% are radiata pine. It is the largest exporter of forestry products and supplies raw materials for pulp and paper plants, sawmills, and related activities.
The fishing industry is another dynamic sector. The region possesses 32% of the country’s total fishing fleet, while approximately 50% of the national catch is unloaded at its ports. Moreover, this region alone is responsible for 4% of the world’s catch of seafood. Main items include shellfish
and conger eel, sardines, anchovy
, mackerel
, hake
, mollusks, crustaceans, and algae
.
High-quality fertile soils support a wide variety of crops, principally produce, grains, vegetables, artificial and improved pastures.
Animal husbandry focuses on production of beef, milk, and dairy products. Mining activity includes non-metallic minerals, principally quartz for the glass and steel industries.
Administrative division
An administrative division, subnational entity, or country subdivision is a portion of a country or other political division, established for the purpose of government. Administrative divisions are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own...
s in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, comprises four provinces: Arauco
Arauco Province
Arauco Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . It spans a coastal area of just south of the mouth of the Biobío River, the traditional demarcation between the nation's major natural regions, Zona Central and Zona Sur...
, Biobio
Biobío Province
Biobío Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . Its capital is Los Ángeles . It is bounded on the north, west and south by the provinces of Concepción, Arauco and Malleco, respectively, and on the east by Argentina. It has an area of of well-wooded and mountainous...
, Concepción
Concepción Province, Chile
Concepción Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . Its capital, Concepción, is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation, the nation's second largest metropolitan area after Santiago.-Administration:...
, and Ñuble
Ñuble Province
Ñuble Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . It spans an area of and is administratively constituted by 21 communes. It has a population of 441,604 inhabitants. Its capital is the city of Chillán.-History:...
.
The capital of the Region is Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
. Other important cities include Chillán
Chillán
Chillán is a city in the Biobío Region of Chile located about south of the country's capital, Santiago, near the geographical center of the country. It is the capital of Ñuble Province and, with a population of approximately 170,000 people , the most populated urban center of this province...
, Coronel, Chile
Coronel
Coronel is a Chilean city and commune, located in the Concepción Province of the eighth region of Biobío.-Geography:The city of Coronel is located in a sandy platform that goes from the mouth of the Biobío River to the Arauco Gulf bay, a muddy landscape, full of forests, typical of the region.This...
, Hualpén
Hualpén
Hualpén is a Chilean city and commune belonging to Concepción Province and the Biobío Region. It forms part of the conurbation of Greater Concepción. The commune spans an area of .-Demographics:...
, Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and Talcahuano
Talcahuano
Talcahuano is a port city and commune in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation. Talcahuano is located in the south of the Central Zone of Chile.-Geography:...
.
Geography
The Region of the Biobío is bordered on the west by the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, on the east by Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, on the north by the Chilean Region of Maule
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
, and on the south by the Chilean Region of Araucanía
Araucanía Region
The IX Araucanía Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions and comprises two provinces: Malleco in the north and Cautín in the south....
.
The Region has been hit by many Chilean earthquakes, including the most powerful earthquake ever recorded (in 1960) and the great earthquake of 2010
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
.
Many communities in the region were greatly affected by the earthquake of 2010 and the subsequent tsunami. That earthquake damaged Talcahuano and Dichato
Dichato
Dichato is a town along the coast of Chile, part of the municipality of Tomé in the northest part of Greater Concepción. At the 2002 census it had 3,057 residents...
; the tsunami destroyed much of what remained.
History
This Region has played a distinguished role in the historyHistory of Chile
The territory of Chile has been populated since at least 2,000 BC. By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began to subdue and colonize the region of present-day Chile, and the territory became a colony from 1540 to 1818, when it gained independence from Spain...
and culture of Chile
Culture of Chile
The culture of Chile is one of a relatively homogeneous society where historically its geographical isolation and remoteness has played a key role...
. Many patriots who fought for independence, presidents
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
, politicians, and artists, like pianist Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau León was a Chilean pianist known for his interpretations of a vast repertoire spanning from the baroque to 20th-century composers, especially Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms and Debussy...
and folklorist Violeta Parra
Violeta Parra
Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval was a notable Chilean composer, songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist...
, were born here.
Historic regions
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rere Former Department of Rere (English translation needed)This is an inland valley between the cities of Concepción and Los Angeles, and it felt the greatest impact of the earthquake of February 27, 2010
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
. The Department of Rere was a vital settlement area of Chileans and the three-hundred-year struggle (until the 1870s) to defeat the strong indigenous tribe of the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
s.
Chilean settlers of Spanish California from the present Region of the Biobío (especially from Concepción, Talcahuano, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and the Department of Rere) may have played a part in the establishment of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and the rest of southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in the period between 1775 and 1820.
Thousands of Chilean miners, ranchers, and shopkeepers from the Biobío region are thought to have settled the coasts, mountains, and valleys of what became American California, both before and after the Mexican-American War, and to have helped create the cities of San Francisco, San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, and San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Demographics and cities
According to data from the 2002 census, the Region of the Biobío, with 1,861,562 inhabitants, is the second most populous region of Chile, after the Metropolitan Region of Santiago. In connection with the 1992 census, reflecting a total population of 1,734,305 inhabitants, there was a population growth of 7.3% in 10 years (1992–2002), the second lowest nationally, after the Region Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica. Taking into account their 37062.6 km ² in area, was in 2002, a density of 50.23 inhabitants per km ², the third highest nationally.The 2002 census showed an urban population of 1,528,306 inhabitants, corresponding to 82.1% of regional population and a rural population of 333,256 inhabitants, equivalent to 17.9% of the population of the region. Of the 1,861,562 inhabitants of the region of Bio Bio in 2002, 915,200, the 49.16% were men and 946,362 inhabitants, 50.84% women.
The metropolitan area of Concepción is one of the most populated conurbations in the country with a population of 979.937 inhabitants, corresponding to the sum of the population of the ten districts of Greater Concepción: Concepción (216.061 inhab.) Talcahuano (250.348 inhab.) , Hualpén (88.046 inhabitants), San Pedro de la Paz (80.447 hab.) Chiguayante (81.302 hab.) Colonel (95.528 hab.) Lota (49.089 hab.) Penco (46.016 hab.) Tomé (52.440 hab.) and Hualqui (20.660 hab.).
Another of the most populated cities in the region are Chillán, with 165.528 inhabitants, is the tenth most populous urban area in the country, and is a conurbation with a portion of its population living in urban areas of the town of Chillán (146.701 inhabitants), and another that lives in the urban area of the town of Chillán Viejo (18.827 inhabitants), and Los Angeles, with its 166.556 inhabitants, is the eighteenth most populous urban area in the country.
With regard to the Province of Ñuble, besides the city of Chillán, other important cities are: San Carlos, with 29.359 inhabitants, Bulnes with 10.681 inhabitants, and Yungay, with 9288 inhabitants, all of these located in the Intermediate Depression, and Coelemu, with 9845 inhabitants, located in the Cordillera de la Costa, near the Rio Itata.
With regard to the Province of Biobío, in addition to Los Angeles, other major cities are: Mulchén with 21.819 inhabitants, Birth to 20.884 inhabitants, the conurbation La Laja-San Rosendo, with a total population of 19.537 inhabitants, with 11.947 inhabitants in Cabrero.
With regard to the Province of Arauco, the most populated cities are: Curanilahue with 30.126 inhabitants, Lebu, the provincial capital, with 20.838 inhabitants, with 19.839 inhabitants Canete, Arauco with 16.291 inhabitants, and Los Alamos with 13035 inhabitants.
With regard to membership or Indigenous Native Peoples, 52.918 people declared in the census of 2002, as Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
, this is a 2.84% of regional population and used the relationship P(aternal) = Female: Amerindian, to determine the racial classification of persons identified as Mapuche.
Ethnography
Along with the AraucaniaAraucanía Region
The IX Araucanía Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions and comprises two provinces: Malleco in the north and Cautín in the south....
, Maule
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
and O'Higgins Region
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
s, the population of Biobío are thought to be remarkably homogeneous in culture, but are of diverse ethnic and racial origins. About two-thirds of the population are Mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
or part-Amerindian, but about ninety percent have some level and form of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an ancestry. There is a romanticized symbol of Chilenidad the huaso
Huaso
A huaso is a Chilean countryman and skilled horseman, similar to the Argentinian, Rio Grande do Sul's or Uruguayan gaucho, the American cowboy, the Australian stockman, and Mexican vaquero and charro. A female huaso is called a huasa, although the term china is far more commonly used for his wife...
or '"cowhand/shepherd" culture typical of Chile.
Large numbers of Andalusian
Andalusian people
The Andalusians are the people of the southern region in Spain approximated by what is now called Andalusia. They are generally not considered an ethnically distinct people because they lack two of the most important markers of distinctiveness: their own language and an awareness of a presumed...
, Asturian
Asturian people
The Asturians are one of the nationalisms of Spain, issuing from the historical country of the Principality of Asturias. They have Celtiberian heritage, related to its historical and cultural links with neighbouring Galicia, as well as Visigothic cultural influences most notably found in the...
, Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
, Galician
Galician people
The Galicians are an ethnic group, a nationality whose historical homeland is Galicia in north-western Spain. Most Galicians are bilingual, speaking both their historic language, Galician, and Castilian Spanish.-Political and administrative divisions:...
, Leonese, Murcian
Murcian
-Places of origin:* Someone or something from the Region of Murcia: a single-province autonomous community in Spain* Someone or something from Murcia, Murcia, Spain: the capital of the Region of Murcia...
, Navarrese, and Valencian
Valencian
Valencian is the traditional and official name of the Catalan language in the Valencian Community. There are dialectical differences from standard Catalan, and under the Valencian Statute of Autonomy, the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua has been established as its regulator...
nationalities other than the "Castilian
Castilian people
The Castilian people are the inhabitants of those regions in Spain where most people identify themselves as Castilian. They include Castile-La Mancha, Madrid, and the major part of Castile and León. However, not all regions of the medieval Kingdom of Castile think of themselves as Castilian...
" Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
who established the nation and culture and gave the Spanish
Chilean Spanish
Chilean Spanish is the variety of Spanish spoken in most of Chile. Though still entirely mutually intelligible with standard Spanish, Chilean Spanish has distinctive pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and slang usage...
language to Chile.
Non-Spanish settlement of the region includes Germans from Germany, Austria and Switzerland; French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
and Italians whom contributed to the regional wine industry; British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peoples like English
English Chilean
English Chileans English descendants in Chile are estimated to number between 350,000 and 420,000 people, although over 700,000 Chileans may have British origin ....
and Scottish
Scottish Chilean
Scottish Chileans are Chileans of Scottish descent who came from Scotland and in some cases, Scots-Irish people from Northern Ireland. A large proportion of Scottish Chileans are sheep farmers in the Magallanes region of the far south of the country, and the city of Punta Arenas has a large...
have densely settled Concepción on the coast; the Dutch
Dutch Chilean
In 1600 , the Chilean city of Valdivia was conquered by Dutch pirate Sebastian de Cordes. He left the city after some months. Then in 1642 the VOC and the WIC sent a fleet of some ships to Chile to conquer the city of Valdivia and the goldmines of the Spanish. The expedition was conducted by...
, Greek and Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
founded the oceanic fishing industry; Arab peoples like the Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Palestinians
Palestinian Chilean
The Palestinian community in Chile is believed to be the largest Palestinian community outside of the Arab world. Estimates of the number of Palestinian descendants in Chile range from 350,000 to 500,000...
established several small businesses; and small scattering of U.S. Americans, Scandinavians
Scandinavians
Scandinavians are a group of Germanic peoples, inhabiting Scandinavia and to a lesser extent countries associated with Scandinavia, and speaking Scandinavian languages. The group includes Danes, Norwegians and Swedes, and additionally the descendants of Scandinavian settlers such as the Icelandic...
and Eastern Europeans mostly from the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(esp. Croats
Croatian Chilean
Chileno-croatas are an important ethnic group in Chile; they are citizens of Chile who were either born in Europe or are Chileans of Croatian descent deriving their Croatian ethnicity from one or both parents...
) establish themselves in Chile as they fled political turmoil.
Religion
According to a 2002 census 58.63% of the inhabitants of the Biobío Region profess CatholicismCatholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, equivalent to 805.517 people, the third largest concentration of Catholics in a region in Chile, while the lowest percentage of Catholics corresponding to a region nationwide. But, 28.36% declare themselves as Protestant or Evangelical, equivalent to 389 632 people, the second largest concentration of Protestants in a region, while the highest percentage of Evangelicals corresponding to a region nationwide.
The province of Arauco
Arauco Province
Arauco Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . It spans a coastal area of just south of the mouth of the Biobío River, the traditional demarcation between the nation's major natural regions, Zona Central and Zona Sur...
is the only province to national level, in which the number of Evangelicals, corresponding to 47.47% of the population is greater than that of Catholics, corresponding to 36.33% of the population. It is a result of Protestant (Lutheran and Calvinist), Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
, Seventh-day Adventist and Mormon missionary work in Arauco during the 20th century.
Biobío tends to show a more cultural conservative attitude in contrast to the urban areas of Santiago/Valparaiso have a more liberal cosmopolitan position. It is more common for residents to attend church regularly, be it Catholic and Protestant.
Economy
For decades, the characteristic feature of the Biobío Region has been its manufacturing industry, which contributes 35.6% of its GDP and operates mainly around the ports of Talcahuano, San VicenteSan Vicente
San Vicente can refer to:*Argentina**San Vicente, Buenos Aires**San Vicente Partido*Bolivia**San Vicente Canton, Bolivia and its seat San Vicente*Chile**San Vicente, Chile*Colombia**San Vicente del Caguán** San Vicente, Antioquia...
, Lirquén, and Coronel, the greatest concentration of ports in Chile. The range of activities is broad, extending from iron and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
making to foodstuffs
Foodstuffs
Foodstuffs is a group of three New Zealand grocery and liquor retailers' cooperatives based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch which collectively control an estimated 57% of the New Zealand grocery market...
manufacture, petrochemicals, metalworking, oil refining, and shipyards.
The region’s dynamism is also rooted in its large rivers. The important hydroelectric power complex on the Laja River
Laja River
There are two notable rivers called Laja River :* Laja River in Guanajuato, central Mexico* Laja River in Chile...
is composed of the El Toro, Abanico, and Antuco power plants, and the Pangue and Ralco plants on the upper Biobío River. These facilities supply 26.6% of the energy used from Taltal
Taltal
Taltal is a Chilean commune and city in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. According to the 2002 census, the commune population was 11,000 and has an area of ....
in the north to Chiloé Archipelago
Chiloé Archipelago
Chiloé Archipelago consists of several islands lying off the coast of Chile. It is separated from mainland Chile by Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and Gulf of Corcovado to the southeast. All of the archipelago except Desertores Islands, which are part of Palena...
2500 km (1,553 mi) to the south.
The region contains almost 44% of Chile’s forest plantations, of which around 82% are radiata pine. It is the largest exporter of forestry products and supplies raw materials for pulp and paper plants, sawmills, and related activities.
The fishing industry is another dynamic sector. The region possesses 32% of the country’s total fishing fleet, while approximately 50% of the national catch is unloaded at its ports. Moreover, this region alone is responsible for 4% of the world’s catch of seafood. Main items include shellfish
Shellfish
Shellfish is a culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some kinds are found only in freshwater...
and conger eel, sardines, anchovy
Anchovy
Anchovies are a family of small, common salt-water forage fish. There are 144 species in 17 genera, found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Anchovies are usually classified as an oily fish.-Description:...
, mackerel
Mackerel
Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They may be found in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel , enter bays and can be...
, hake
Hake
The term hake refers to fish in either of:* family Phycidae of the northern oceans* family Merlucciidae of the southern oceans-Hake fish:...
, mollusks, crustaceans, and algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
.
High-quality fertile soils support a wide variety of crops, principally produce, grains, vegetables, artificial and improved pastures.
Animal husbandry focuses on production of beef, milk, and dairy products. Mining activity includes non-metallic minerals, principally quartz for the glass and steel industries.
External links
- Official website of the Regional Government of Biobío