Ovalle

Ovalle is a city in the small northern Chile in the Región de Coquimbo. It has 107 139 inhabitants (as of 2005).

Geography

Ovalle is located approximately 86 km south of the city of La Serena and is the capital of the province Limarí. The city lies at the confluence of three rivers, the Río Limarí, the Río Hurtado and Río Grande.

History

Ovalle was founded on May 7, 1831. It was named after the former president José Tomás Ovalle (1830 - 1831).

Attractions

The area around Ovalle offers plenty of prehistoric sites. The Casa de Piedra ( rock formation ) is a mountain overhang which was already used 10,000 years ago by natives. Dinosaurs - and fossil finds are in the Monumento Natural Pichasca. In the Valle del Encanto ( "Valley of the spell " ) 20 km south of Ovalle is a prehistoric place of worship, which is about 4000 years old.

In the Museum Archaeological Museum to get plenty of insight into the history of the area.

A number of reservoirs will be around Ovalle, zBder Recoleta Dam and the La Paloma Dam in Limarí Valley. 33 km west of the city lie the Termas de Socos, hot springs, ideal for swimming.

80 km west of Ovalle the Fray Jorge National Park Bosque de, with its hydrophilic forests, with Canelo trees ( Drimys winteri ) Olivillo trees ( Aetoxicon punctatum ), Helecho - tree fern ( Helecho arborescente ). and the Myrtle family Arranyán ( Myrceugenia correaeifolia ). The national park offers to its approximately 95 km ², a variety of wildlife, such as Guanacos, Andean condors, and pumas. The park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1977.

Economy

Ovalle lives mainly on agriculture and tourism. The cultivation of wine plays an important role, this is for example grown in the Valle de Elqui and el Choapa.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Luis Sepúlveda, Chilean writer, director, journalist and political activist.