Not to be confused with the historical
Colchagua province
, a first-level administrative division of Chile.
Province in O'Higgins, Chile
Colchagua Province
(
Spanish
:
Provincia de Colchagua
) is one of three
provinces
of the central
Chilean
region
of
O'Higgins
(VI). Its
capital
is
San Fernando
. It is bordered on the north by
Cachapoal Province
, on the east by the
Argentine Republic
, on the south by
Curico Province
, and on the west by
Cardenal Caro Province
.
Geography and demography
[
edit
]
The area of Colchagua is officially estimated at 5,678 km
2
(2,192 sq mi) with a population (2002
census
) at 196,566. Extending across the
central valley
of Chile, the province has a considerable area devoted to traditional agriculture and
wine-growing
. Its principal rivers are the
Rapel River
and its tributary, the
Tinguiririca
.
The principal towns are
San Fernando
, the provincial capital,
[4]
Santa Cruz
,
Chimbarongo
,
Nancagua
and
Palmilla
. San Fernando is one of the several towns founded in 1742 by the governor-general
Jose Antonio Manso de Velasco
,
[4]
and it had a population of 64,000 in 2002.
Administration
[
edit
]
As a province, Colchagua is a second-level
administrative division
of Chile, governed by a provincial delegate who is appointed by the
president
.
The province comprises ten communes, each governed by a municipality consisting of an
alcalde
and
municipal council
.
Transport
[
edit
]
The state central railway (
EFE
) from
Santiago
to the south crosses the province and has a regular stop in San Fernando. It used to have a branch running from San Fernando via
Palmilla
to
Pichilemu
on the coast. This is now closed, although one section of it has recently opened a limited service aimed at the
tourist
trade.
The more local
Metrotren
service runs between Santiago and San Fernando stopping at most of the towns in between. There are frequent trains between these two points.
The
Pan-American Highway
runs through the San Fernando commune, passing close to the east side of the town.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
|
---|
International
| |
---|
National
| |
---|
Other
| |
---|