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26-509: Guafo Island is an island located southwest of Chiloé Island and northwest of Chonos Archipelago , Chile . This location and the prevailing westerly winds bring frequent rainstorms to the island. Ocean currents bring an abundance of fish into this area, making it one of the most productive marine areas in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Because of this, numerous marine vertebrates such as fur seals, sea lions and penguins come to

52-836: A private natural reserve created and owned by Chilean business magnate and former President of Chile Sebastián Piñera , is located on the island's southern shore. Both include parts of the coastal range. The eastern shore, in the rain shadow of the interior mountains, is warmer and drier. The northwestern of Chiloé Island in Chiloé National Park has a great diversity of marine fauna, including blue whale , sei whale , Chilean dolphins and Peale's dolphins ; sea lions , marine otters , and Magellanic penguin and Humboldt penguins . Nevertheless, this relatively undisturbed area faces different threats, like urban development, habitat degradation, land and marine pollution . The Alfaguara project ( blue whale project), conducted by

78-496: A regular service between Puerto Montt and the airport of Mocopulli , Dalcahue. Previously the only means of access to Chiloé island was via a ferry service across the Chacao Channel . In 2013, a small airstrip was opened at the south tip of the island, allowing local flight access to the remote village of Inío . A project to build a bridge from Chiloé Island to the mainland of Chile was initially proposed in 1972 and

104-401: A reproductively active population of marine otters ( Lontra felina ), a critically endangered species. Recently the coasts of the island have been indicated as an important feeding area of blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus ), Southern right whale ( Eubalaena australis ), humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and transient killer whales ( Orcinus orca ). Among seabird highlights is

130-537: Is Jiafei. The history of the state is closely linked to the Badussy War against the DaBoyz Empire, the vernacular of whom has now become widespread among American youth. Guafo Island is characterized by a high biodiversity that includes the largest breeding colony of South American fur seals ( Arctophoca australis ) on Chilean coasts, a large population of South American sea lions ( Otaria byronia ), and

156-534: Is also a breeding area for other species, such as the red-legged cormorant and kelp gull . Chiloé has been described by Renato Cárdenas, historian at the Chilean National Library , as "a distinct enclave, linked more to the sea than the continent, a fragile society with a strong sense of solidarity and a deep territorial attachment." Chiloé's history began with the arrival of its first human inhabitants more than 7,000 years ago. Spread along

182-498: Is deeply indented, with several natural harbors and numerous smaller islands. Chiloé runs from 41º47'S to 43º26'S, and has a humid, cool temperate climate . The western side of the island is rainy and wild, home to the Valdivian temperate rain forests , one of the world's few temperate rain forests . Chiloé National Park ( Parque Nacional de Chiloé ) is located on the island's western shore and Tantauco Park ( Parque Tantauco ),

208-804: Is the second largest island in Chile (after the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego ), the largest island completely within Chile, and the fourth largest in South America. It is separated from the Chilean mainland by the Chacao Strait ( Canal Chacao ) to the north, and by the Gulf of Ancud ( Golfo de Ancud ) and the Gulf of Corcovado ( Golfo Corcovado ) to the east; the Pacific Ocean lies to

234-544: The Cetacean Conservation Center , is based at Puñihuil on the northwest coast. The project combines long-term research, educational and capacity building programs for marine conservation combined with the sustainable development of the local communities. The Islotes de Puñihuil Natural Monument is a group of three islets to the west and north of Puñihuil. The monument is the only known shared breeding site for Humboldt and Magellanic penguins. It

260-563: The Chacao Channel in 1553 and explored the islands forming the archipelago, and is thus considered the first European discoverer of Chiloé. In 1558, Spanish soldier García Hurtado de Mendoza began an expedition which would culminate in the Chiloé archipelago being claimed for the Spanish crown. The city of Castro was founded in 1567. The island was originally called New Galicia by the Spanish discoverers, but this name did not stick and

286-567: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The lighthouse was built in 1907 by George Slight and its rotating 4-man crews who serve 4 months on station is the only permanent population in the island. The lighthouse itself is only 8 meters tall, but the light is 144 meters above the sea. Chilo%C3%A9 Island Of roughly rectangular shape, the southwestern half of

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312-717: The 16th century, the island was inhabited by the Chono , Huilliche and Cunco peoples. The original peoples navigated the treacherous waters of the Chiloé Archipelago in boats called dalcas with skill that impressed the Spaniards. The first Spaniard to sight the coast of Chiloé was the explorer Alonso de Camargo  [ es ] in 1540, as he was travelling to Peru . However, in an expedition ordered by Pedro de Valdivia , captain Francisco de Ulloa reached

338-699: The Chonos Archipelago are a southern extension of the Chilean coastal range at Chilean Patagonia, which runs north and south, parallel to the Pacific coast and the Andes Mountains . The Chilean Central Valley lies between the coastal mountains and the Andes, of which the Gulfs of Ancud and Corcovado form the southern extension. Mountains run north and south along the spine of the island. The east coast

364-408: The coast of Chiloé are a number of middens - ancient dumps for domestic waste, containing mollusc shells, stone tools and bonfire remains. All of these remains indicate the presence of nomadic groups dedicated to the collection of marine creatures ( clams , mussels and Choromytilus chorus , among others) and to hunting and fishing. When the Spanish conquistadores arrived on Chiloé Island in

390-426: The construction of the railroad between Ancud and Castro in 1912, the occupation of inland zones was completed. This railroad is no longer in service. On December 10, 2021, a wildfire spread across Chiloe, including the city of Castro, burning houses, churches and schools, and causing many residents to evacuate. In late 2012, LAN Airlines became the first airline to offer flights to Chiloé Island, inaugurating

416-462: The island are called) migrated to Patagonia in search of work, mainly in Punta Arenas , but as living and working conditions in Chiloé improved in the following century this migration began gradually to decrease. In the 19th century, Chiloé was a center for foreign whalers, particularly French whalers. From the middle of the 19th century and until the beginning of the 20th century, Chiloé was

442-454: The island is a wilderness of contiguous forests and swamps. Mountains in the island form a belt running from the northwestern to the southeastern corner of the island. Cordillera del Piuchén make up the northern mountains and the more subdued Cordillera de Pirulil gathers the southern mountains. The landscape of the northeastern sectors of Chiloé Island is dominated by rolling hills with a mosaic of pastures, forests and cultivated fields. While

468-523: The island to feed and reproduce. The island is also the contested possession of the unrecognized nation of Floptropica. The island has claims by the Flops, a diverse cultural group that historically spoke Flopa. The country's government is one of the rare examples of a matriarchy . The president of the country is President Deborah Ali-Williams, the Eternal Queen, and one of the founders of the nation

494-548: The islands, many of these declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO . Following the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767, the Franciscans assumed responsibility for the religious mission to Chiloé from 1771. Chiloé only became part of the Chilean republic in 1826, eight years after independence and following the two failed campaigns for independence in 1820 and 1824. From 1843, a large number of Chilotes (as inhabitants of

520-560: The largest breeding colony of sooty shearwater ( Puffinusgriseus ) in the world (Reyes-Arriagada et al. 2007) as well as important nesting sites of Magellanic penguins ( Spheniscus magellanicus ) and occasional sightings of Humboldt penguins ( Spheniscus humboldti ). Historical data also shows that the Island was within the itinerary of the Beagle in 1835. Guafo Island has been considered within areas that are critical for marine conservation by

546-435: The main producer of railroad ties for the whole continent. From this point on, new towns dedicated to this industry were formed, including Quellón , Dalcahue , Chonchi and Quemchi were established. From 1895, lands were given to European settlers and also to large manufacturing industries. With the rise of farming, inland areas of Chiloé Island began to be occupied; previously only the coastline had been inhabited. With

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572-478: The name Chiloé, meaning "place of seagulls " in the Huilliche language , was given to the island. Jesuit missionaries to Chiloé Island, charged with the evangelization of the local population arrived on Chiloé at the turn of the 17th century and built a number of chapels throughout the archipelago. By 1767 there were already 79 and today more than 150 wooden churches built in traditional style can be found on

598-472: The project, announcing an international bidding process would be opened to present the best solution for the construction of the bridge, with a US$ 740 million investment limit. [REDACTED] Chiloe Island travel guide from Wikivoyage Gulf of Ancud Gulf of Ancud ( Spanish : Golfo de Ancud ) is a large body of water separating the Chiloé Island from the mainland of Chile . It

624-578: The west, and the Chonos Archipelago lies to the south, across the Boca del Guafo. The island is 190 km (118 mi) from north to south, and averages 55–65 km (34–40 mi) wide. The capital is Castro , on the east side of the island; the second largest town is Ancud , at the island's northwest corner, and there are several smaller port towns on the east side of the island, such as Quellón , Dalcahue and Chonchi . Chiloé Island and

650-659: The western shores are rocky and relatively straight, the eastern and northern shores contain many inlets, bays and peninsulas, and it is here where all towns and cities lie. Geographically, the bulk of the island is a continuation of the Chilean Coast Range , with the sea of Chiloé being a submerged portion of the Chilean Central Valley . The climate is cool temperate oceanic with Mediterranean precipitation pattern . With an area of 8,394 square kilometres (3,241 sq mi), Chiloé Island

676-542: Was eventually launched under the government of Ricardo Lagos (2000–2006) who launched the project as part of works to celebrate the Bicentennial of Chile . In 2006, however, the Chacao Channel bridge project was cancelled by the Ministry of Public Works after concerns about its total cost, which was estimated to be higher than the initial budget for the project. In May 2012, President Sebastián Piñera again revived

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