Cochrane (Chile)

Cochrane on the map of Chile

Cochrane is a town in the south of the South American Andean country Chile. It is located around 340 km south of Coyhaique in the Región de Aysen (Region XI). It has around 3000 inhabitants (2003 ) and is the capital of the province of Capitán Prat.

Geography

The city lies on the Rio Cochrane. East of the city of the great Lake Cochrane is located approximately 173 km ² area, south of Monte San Lorenzo with a height of 3706 m. The Carretera Austral Highway runs through the town.

The climate is due to the southern location already quite polar.

History

1899 explored the German geographer Hans Steffen was the first the area around the Río Baker. From 1930 began on the orders of the government, the active colonization of the area. The city was officially founded in 1954. It is named after the British Thomas Cochrane, Chile assisted through the struggle for independence against Spain and from 1817-1822 in command of the Chilean fleet.

Economy

The city lives mainly from fishing and tourism to the southern ice fields and glaciers. With the Carretera Austral, a certain economic boom in the city.

Tourism

Cochrane is an intermediate station on the Carretera Austral, which further leads to the south of Chile. At the mouth of the Río Baker tourists expect the first Patagonian ice fields - the north is about 55 km west- northwest of Cochrane, southern about 120 south. The area is crisscrossed by many glaciers.

The national reserve Reserva Nacional Tamango on Lake Cochrane offers rare species such as the huemul. The rivers are full of fish to Cochrane, ideal for anglers and fly fishermen.

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