Puerto Octay

Puerto Octay is a village of about 2,500 inhabitants (2005) in southern Chile in the Región de los Lagos (Region X).

Puerto Octay lies on the northern shore of Lake Llanquihue near the Centinela Peninsula. With around 860 square kilometers of the Llanquihue Lake is the second largest lake in Chile. If you look to the east, one sees there the mighty Volcán Osorno with its 2652 meters height.

Puerto Octay is a heavily German influenced city with many German buildings from the period around 1910.

History

In 1852, German immigrants populated the area around Lago Llanquihue. Puerto Octay was founded the same year by them and initially carried the name Puerto Munoz Gamero. Since 1859 it bears the name Puerto Octay. On 22 December 1891, the municipality of Puerto Octay was officially established. It was named after one of its first inhabitants. The German -born Cristino Ochs had a shop that was synonymous with the place: " Donde hay ox " ( " When there are ox " ) turned into Octay.

Tourism

The site offers tours around Lake Llanquihue and Volcan Osorno. Several beaches on Lake Llanquihue at Puerto Octay are often used in the summer by tourists.

The museum Museo El Colono shows the German colonization middle of the 19th century. The museum shows the history of Native Galpón.

Economy

Tourism is the mainstay of Puerto Octay. Around the village is intensively farmed, some with large herds. The forestry and fisheries are other economic factors.

Daily from Puerto Octay ships sailing across the lake to Puerto Varas. From here you can reach the capital city of Puerto Montt region easily.