Huerta de Maule
Encyclopedia
Huerta del Maule or Huerta de Maule is a Chile
an hamlet (caserío) in San Javier
, Linares Province
, Maule Region
. This picturesque and bucolic place, with a current permanent population of less than 300, used to have far more importance and population two centuries ago, having been a strategic place because of its location at the south of the Maule river
and west of the Loncomilla River
in central Chile, over the busy, old colonial route from Santiago
- Talca
to Concepción
.
Monastery
, and according to tradition, was further encouraged by the discovery of gold in its environs. Typically, the inhabitants of Chile's Maule Region in colonial
times were strongly rooted to their hacienda
s and, for a long time, there was strong resistance by the population to leave the rural
areas and small villages and move to the cities. As in other villages of the region, in Huerta de Maule, the productive agricultural and commercial activities kept the place alive and relatively wealthy.
" in Central Chile, west of the Loncomilla river and the Gupo hill, and southwest of the town of San Javier, Chile
. Altitude: 496 m.
, Huerta del Maule had a population of 308, which had fallen to less than 270, in 2002. The area surrounding Huerta de Maule is sparsely populated. Within a radio of seven miles from the place there live a mere 2,000 people.
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...
an hamlet (caserío) in San Javier
San Javier, Chile
San Javier is a Chilean city and commune located in the Province of Linares, Maule Region. The city lies in the geographical center of the country, some south of Santiago, to the northwest of the provincial capital, Linares, and to the south of Talca, the regional capital...
, Linares Province
Linares Province
Linares is one of four provinces of the central Chilean region of Maule . The provincial capital and most populous center is the city of Linares.-Administration:...
, Maule Region
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...
. This picturesque and bucolic place, with a current permanent population of less than 300, used to have far more importance and population two centuries ago, having been a strategic place because of its location at the south of the Maule river
Maule river
The Maule river is one of the most important rivers of Chile and is inextricably linked to this country's pre-Hispanic times, the country's conquest, colonial period, wars of Independence, modern history, agriculture , culture , religion, economy and politics...
and west of the Loncomilla River
Loncomilla River
Loncomilla River is a tributary to the Maule river in Linares Province, Maule Region, Chile. Two rivers join to form the Loncomilla River: the Perquilauquén river and Longaví river.-External links:...
in central Chile, over the busy, old colonial route from Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
- Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
to 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...
.
History
Huerta del Maule was officially founded with the name of "San Antonio de la Florida" in 1754. Although a settlement already existed there since the second half of the 17th century, originally associated to the presence of a FranciscanFranciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, and according to tradition, was further encouraged by the discovery of gold in its environs. Typically, the inhabitants of Chile's Maule Region in colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
times were strongly rooted to their hacienda
Hacienda
Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even business factories. Many haciendas combined these productive activities...
s and, for a long time, there was strong resistance by the population to leave the rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
areas and small villages and move to the cities. As in other villages of the region, in Huerta de Maule, the productive agricultural and commercial activities kept the place alive and relatively wealthy.
Geography
Huerta del Maule lies in the foothills of a low-altitude chain of the "Cordillera de la CostaCordillera de la Costa
Cordillera de la Costa may refer to the following mountain ranges:* Cordillera de la Costa, Chile: see Chilean Coast Range* Cordillera de la Costa, Venezuela: see Coastal Range, Venezuela...
" in Central Chile, west of the Loncomilla river and the Gupo hill, and southwest of the town of San Javier, Chile
San Javier, Chile
San Javier is a Chilean city and commune located in the Province of Linares, Maule Region. The city lies in the geographical center of the country, some south of Santiago, to the northwest of the provincial capital, Linares, and to the south of Talca, the regional capital...
. Altitude: 496 m.
Demography
According to the 1992 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Huerta del Maule had a population of 308, which had fallen to less than 270, in 2002. The area surrounding Huerta de Maule is sparsely populated. Within a radio of seven miles from the place there live a mere 2,000 people.
Climate
The climate of the zone is temperate, with an average temperature of 14.4 °C (or 57.92°F) and an average annual precipitation of 680 mm concentrated between the months of June and August.Sources
- http://www.sernatur.cl/scripts/sitio/destino_atractivo2.php?destino=171&atractivo=310
- http://www.rc.net/chile/linares/linaresdiocese.html#anchorparishes
- http://www.oresteplath.cl/antologia/animita3.html