Elevation 461 m (1,512 ft) Area code(s) country 56 + city 45 Area 1,107 km² | Time zone CLT (UTC-4) Website www.melipeuco.cl Local time Saturday 8:18 AM | |
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Weather 14°C, Wind E at 6 km/h, 89% Humidity Points of interest Sollipulli, Conguillío National Park, Conguillío Lake, Llaima, Parador Turístico de Melipeuco | ||
Melipeuco ([meliˈpeuko]) is a town and commune (Spanish: comuna) in Chile, located at the foot of the Andes, in the Province of Cautín, Araucanía Region. Melipeuco is 12 km (7 mi) from the southern entrance of the Conguillío National Park. The Nevados de Sollipulli, an ice-filled volcanic caldera surrounded by numerous hot water springs and geysers, lie south of the town. Lake Carilafquén is also located in this area. At the edge of the Nevados de Collipulli, at the Alpehue intersection 33 km (21 mi) away, there are several hot springs with water from 40 to 70 °C (104 to 158 °F), even in the middle of glacier blocks.
Contents
Map of Melipeuco, Araucania, Chile
Demographics
According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Melipeuco spans an area of 1,107.3 km2 (428 sq mi) and has 5,628 inhabitants (2,906 men and 2,722 women). Of these, 2,333 (41.5%) lived in urban areas and 3,295 (58.5%) in rural areas. The population grew by 5.9% (315 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
Administration
As a commune, Melipeuco is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Eduardo Navarrete Fuentes (UDI).
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Melipeuco is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Enrique Estay (UDI) and Fuad Chahín (PDC) as part of the 49th electoral district, (together with Victoria, Curacautín, Lonquimay, Vilcún, Lautaro, Perquenco and Galvarino). The commune is represented in the Senate by Alberto Espina Otero (RN) and Jaime Quintana Leal (PPD) as part of the 14th senatorial constituency (Araucanía-North).