Puerto Aysén

Puerto Aysen on the map of Chile

Geography

The town lies at the mouth of the Río Los Palos in the Rio Aysen. A few kilometers away is the small port town of Puerto Chacabuco with around 1,700 inhabitants. From here you can go by ferry to Puerto Montt. A well-developed highway leading to Coihaique.

To the territory of the commune include a large part of the Chonos Archipelago and several national parks, such as the Reserva Nacional Río Simpson and the National Park Laguna San Rafael. Other villages in the municipality are Villa Mañihuales (45 º 10 'S, 72 ° 9'W ) and Puerto Aguirre (45 º 10 'S, 73 ° 31'W ) on the island of Las Huichas.

The climate is characterized by heavy rainfall (3000 mm / year). The mean summer temperature is 8 ° C and in winter at -6 ° C.

Economy

The city lives mainly from fishing and tourism. Around the city there are several large hydroelectric power plants, as well as thermal power plants of the Company ' Edelaysen S.A ' that supply the Aysen region with electricity. About the freight and passenger port Port Chacabuco relates the region fuels and other supplies. From Chacabuco find agricultural products, such as livestock, their way in the more densely populated north.

Tourism

East of Puerto Aysen is the Reserva Nacional Río Simpson. He is very rich in species with deep forests of lenga southern beech ( Nothofagus pumilio ). The deep granite canyons of the Rio Simpson and many lakes are other attractions.

Far to the west of the city lies the Laguna San Rafael National Park, with its calving glaciers.

In 1968, the suspension bridge ' Puente Presidente Ibáñez ' with a length of 210 m above the Río Aysen was curious. Today it is a national monument and an important tourist destination.

History

Discovery

1763 came the Jesuit Vicuña on a mission trip to the Aysen Fjord, where it was four days via the Rio Aysen, as far as he was passable with his small boat. The inhabitants of this region were the Chonos, who lived in many small groups, mostly on the islands. The Chonos described the region around the river as Aysen. Prevented the dense forest that Vicuña and his companions were able to penetrate deeper into the country. Everything they reached near the present-day Puerto Aysen was to leave an incised cross in a tree.

Epoch of loggers and ranchers

The modern colonization began only after Chile had gained independence from Spain. The first colonists and loggers came individually and at their own initiative in the region and left where it was considered appropriate them down. Thus developed many years before the Chilean state ever took note of the first settlements. Around 1880, built a timber merchant from Chiloe, Ciriaco Alvarez, in the area between Puerto Aysen and Puerto Chacabuco a hub for timber, and means for supplying its workers. This entrepreneur, who was known with the nickname of " cypress king", is considered the first settler of Puerto Aisen.

In January bis explored for the first time in May 1897 the German geographer Hans Steffen behalf of the government the catchment area of ​​the river Aisen, because the border between Chile and Argentina should be set at the Continental Divide. 1901 was built inland at the instigation of the Boundary Commission from Aysen Fjord from a 75 km long road along the Rio Aysen. After 1902, the boundary line was then laid down sat a rancher boom ( Fiebre de las Ganaderas ) in western Patagonia. The government awarded the following year between Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas ten 20-year concessions to private entrepreneurs with the aim of promoting colonization in southern Chile. The concessionaire was allowed to the area assigned to manage its discretion and made a commitment in return for a certain number of colonists to settle, regular boat connections with Puerto Montt to entertain and to establish utilities.

The concessionaire for the area in Puerto Aisen was Luis Aguirre from Punta Arenas, of his rights to the corporation Sociedad Industrial del Aysen transferred after a few months. Aguirre had good connections to Mauricio Braun, a rich businessman and rancher from Punta Arenas. With their support he could start the company well and set up on the 827,000 acre concession area once an Estancia with 1715 cattle and 50 horses. Aguirre organized the recruitment and transport of 500 men who mostly came from Chiloé and built in three years, the 80 km long road from Puerto Chacabuco after Coihaique from 1904.

1913, the foundation stone was laid for Puerto Aysen by the construction of a factory for processing of cattle the ranch. Puerto Aisen became the hub for goods and livestock to and from Coihaique, the center of Estancia. The company made lush profits and grew vigorously. The First World War it was by rising prices for its products, especially wool, deserve better. So lived around 1920 in Puerto Aisen 158 men and 70 women.

By 1926, the company had repeatedly to settle its obligation deprived colonists. As it was no longer different, she finally forgave to 106 persons plots at Puerto Aisen. Instead, as probably originally intended to distribute livestock and materials to the settlers, they gave every 700 pesos as seed money. Only 54 of them took their land in possession, the other not even care to learn about where their plots were higher than ever. Two years later, the subdivision was no longer recognizable as such.

State- organized colonization

Given the apparent unwillingness and failure of the Concessional organized in 1928 the Chilean state colonization itself on January 28, 1928, the administrative center of Puerto Aysen was founded. The place was at the time already about 20 houses, a store, a hotel and a port facility. On 26 December, the City Council established with the mayor and two city councils. As a result of the construction of many government officials came to the village. By 1930, Puerto Aysen had 2051 inhabitants. The accounted for almost one third of all inhabitants of the Aysen region. 1931/32 is established the Justice and their auxiliary administrations. 1934 a church was built.

1936 was the place of 330, predominantly single-storey houses made of wood, some of which were covered with sheet metal. On land, the approximately 1250 m2 were standing houses with 80 to 90 m2, with floor plans in L- or U-shape and with canopies.