Quellón
Quellón is a city in southern Chile, and is located on the second largest island of the country of Chiloé in the Región de los Lagos. Quellón has about 21,000 inhabitants (2003 ).
Geography
The port city is located in the southeast of the island of Chiloe on the Panamericana, it is their official endpoint.
The climate is mild, but very moist.
History
In 1743, the parts of the Caucahues - indigenous people were relocated to the island Cailín. The island is located south of the city Quellón. Here the Jesuits built a church and missionary work.
On February 25, 1881 Chilean President gave the order to build a port in the today " Quellón Viejo " said village, which is 4 km away. The port was built on the Punta de Lapas Peninsula.
Was created in 1905 at the present port of Quellón the company Destilatorio Quellón SA, which produced in a distillery of wood charcoal, acetone and alcohol, on a site that was called by the locals Llauquil. She founded in 1906 the city Quellón. To transport the wood a short narrow-gauge railway was built from the port to the forest. The distillery, at that time the only one of its kind in South America, caused an economic boom throughout the environment. Wood and charcoal were shipped in Quellón to Salpeterwerken in northern Chile. 1952, the distillery was closed due to marketing difficulties.
Originally lived most of the inhabitants of the town on the coastal road, where there were numerous stilt houses ( palafitos ), but they were in the devastating earthquake and tsunami of 1960 following nearly all destroyed and then not rebuilt. After 1960, most residents Quellóns settled a little further inland to where new roads have been created. The city was reachable only by boat until 1966, until the Pan-American Highway was completed by Quellón. At the endpoint of 22000 km long Pan-American Highway is a commemorative plaque in Quellón. At the beginning of the 21st century, the city experienced an economic boom as a fishing port.
Economy
Quellón lives mainly from tourism, fishing and fish processing industry. The city is one of the most important ports on Chiloé.
Tourism
In Quellón two museums are worth seeing: The Museo Inchin Cuivi Ant explains the culture of the indigenous Huilliche, while the Museo Municipal is the history of the city in the first place. The cultural center with exhibition and event halls was built with the financial support of a salmon processing company. In the market, Feria Artesanal Llauquil much crafts will be offered. In the running seaside road Costanera P. Montt some hotels and restaurants can be found.
Around the city are many small coves and beaches, but the water temperature for some people to swim is too low.
In the village of Punta de Lapa, 5 km from Quellón, ending the Panamericana. The village has a 5 km long beach. In Quellón Viejo, a 4 km south-west village, which is considerably older than the city Quellón, typical of Chiloé wooden church from the 20th century is worth seeing. At the cemetery, grave times of wood can be seen. The tomb of the first priests of the village, of the 1907 deceased dolphin Gatti, is an exact replica of the village church in a reduced form.
To Quellón there are also a number of villages of the indigenous Huilliche, eg Computer (25 km north ) with a built in the early 20th century wooden church. Also Yaldad, 7 km west of Quellón, with its approximately 500 inhabitants, is a village of Huilliche in which a beginning of the 20th century, built in the typical style of the island of Chiloé and 1985 and in 1990 renovated wooden church.
Among the places to see around Quellón also includes Trincão (10 km) with an interesting cemetery and a church was built in 1920.
Transport links
From Castro, the 92 km distant capital of the island of Chiloé, Quellón several times a day to reach by bus. From Quellón there are ferry connections to Puerto Chacabuco and Chaitén.
Photo Gallery
Main street Calle Ladrilleros
Costanera Pedro Montt quayside
Views of the volcano of Corcovado
Overall view
Plaque at the end point of the Panamericana