Queilén
Queilén is a comune ( Comuna ) in southern Chile on the east coast of the island of Chiloé in the Región de los Lagos.
Location and districts
The distance to Castro, capital of Chiloé province is 63 km. In the north, the area borders the municipality Chonchi to Queilen, in the south of the municipality Quellón. The municipality is 223.9 km ² Queilen and consists of the same small town and following 19 villages:
- Agoni
- Leibún
- Pio Pio
- Aituy
- Detico
- San Miguel
- Contuy
- Paildad
- Apeche
- Apeche Alto
- Puleo
- Diaz Lira
- Acui on the offshore island of Isla Acui
- Centinela, Millahue, Alqui, Nepué, San José and Tranqui on the offshore island of Isla Tranqui
Population
In the 2002 census, there were 5138 inhabitants, of whom 1912 lived in the city Queilen .. In the villages belonging to Queilen 3 226 people lived ( 62.8 %), including 67 on the island Acui and 270 on the Isla Tranqui. From 1992 to 2002, the population Queilens increased by 3.8% (186 inhabitants).
History
As the official date of the city foundation applies February 9, 1778, but there was here at the beginning of the 18th century a settlement of the Indians with a chapel, which was expanded in 1771 to a church. Between 1818 and 1821 explored a Spanish cavalry general the area, in whose honor the town was in 1890 renamed " Puerto Grille ". However, this place name was uncommon in the population and was soon replaced by the old name. After 1900 Queilen experienced by the forestry development an economic boom as a port on the east coast of Chiloé. 1937 were destroyed by fire 15 houses on the coast road Calle Alesandri. With the expansion of the road network on Chiloé city and port lost, however, important as Queilen lay off the major land routes. Many people left the city in order to settle in the conveniently located cities Castro or Ancud. Only with the construction of the road from Queilen after Chonchi 1976, improved transport links. With the rise of the fish processing industry and the Chilean domestic tourism, it came at the end of the 20th century to an economic upturn in the city
Environment and Tourism
The tourism industry is gaining as an economic factor for Queilen increasingly important as the area surrounded on two sides by the sea town has sandy beaches that are well suited for swimming and water sports. In the city center, built in 1940 in the central square and church, founded on the promenade next to the refurbished, built 1928-30 ferry pier Muelle Histórico 1999 Museum Refugio Para Navegantes are worth mentioning.
From Queilen is the upstream, 2 km long and 0.5 km wide, Isla Acui with its indigenous population to reach by boat, as the Isla Tranqui after thirty minute drive.
The village Lelbún 15 km north of Queilen with its wooden church from the mid-20th century is famous for its beach, as well Agoni (20 km north). In Agoni chilotische typical wooden houses from shingles are still preserved. The village Aituy (8 km north) is visited on 30 August at the fair, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century Iglesia Jesús Nazareno much. Nature reserves were applied to the lush lagoons of Paildad and Pio Pio ( 14 km).