Aisén Region

Aisén Region of
General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
Aisén Region of; General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo; XI Región Aisén del; General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
	— Region of Chile —
; Flag	; Coat of arms
	Map of Aisén Region of; General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
Country	Chile
Capital	Coihaique
Provinces	Coihaique, Aisén, General Carrera, Capitán Prat
	Government
• Intendant	Pilar Cuevas Mardones (Ind)
	Area
• Total	108,494.4 km2 (41,889.9 sq mi)
Area rank	3
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
	Population (2002)
• Total	91,492
• Rank	15
• Density	0.8/km2 (2.2/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	CL-AI

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The XI Aisén Region of General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo (Spanish: XI Región Aisén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo), also spelled Aysén, is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Although the third largest in area, the region is Chile's most sparsely populated region with a population of 105,000. The capital of the region is Coihaique, the region's former namesake.

It is the least populous of the fifteen regions. The shape of the landscape is marked by several glaciations that formed a lot of lakes, channels and fjords. The region still has icefields including the Northern Patagonian Ice Field and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world's largest after those in Antarctica and Greenland. Laguna San Rafael National Park, reachable only by boat or plane, is one of its most popular tourist destinations. Until the construction of Route 7 (the Carretera Austral, or Southern Highway) in the 1980s, the only overland routes from north to south through the region were extremely primitive tracks.

[edit] Demography

The Vista de Coihaique y Coihaique Esta region was the last to be joined to make the country, long after even the southernmost region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica. Its geographical location and transport difficulties explain the lack of interest aroused in the nineteenth century these lands, to the point that not even thought of colonizing them with immigrants, as happened with the other southern regions. Following the signing of the Boundary Treaty with Argentina in 1881, settlers came to settle in these lands, which came scrolling through the Pampas to the valleys that cross the Andes from east to west. The anonymous and private effort led to the spontaneous creation of cities in Puerto Aysen in 1904, Balmaceda Coyhaique in 1917 and 1929. The oldest of the towns is Melinka ("Darling" in Russian), established by mid-nineteenth century, on Ascension Island, the archipelago of the Guaitecas.

The native population was not abundant, if not scarce. In the insular region were some aborigines who inhabited the Islas del Chonos are the Guaitecas and Chonos, whom were believed to been extinct in the 20th century. In the archipelagos south of the Gulf of Penas and to Tierra del Fuego are the Alacalufes or Kaweshkar lived, also fishermen. Both groups were quickly decimated by disease and attacks by settlers in the late 19th century coming from southern Chile and Europe, a great number were from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, former Yugoslavia, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom. Large numbers of Russians, Croats, Scots, Welsh and Irish arrived by government invitation and land sale programs to assist in the population of southern Chile and to reduce the number of indigenous peoples.

Region XI, Aysen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, is the least populated of the country. According to the 2002 census was only 91 492 inhabitants in an area of 106,990.9 km ², which implies a very low density: 0,85 inhabitants per km ². For the time elapsed since the last census to date, it has been estimated an average growth rate of 0.9 per 100 inhabitants.

The largest cities are (2002 census): Coyhaique (44.850 hab.), Puerto Aysen (16.936 hab.), Chile Chico (3042 hab.). Puerto Swan (2517 pop.), Cochrane (2217 pop.); Melinka (1411 hab.) and Mañihuales Villa (1401 pop.).

[edit] People of Coyhaique

The indigenous Cunco people sparsley populated the region before European arrival. The capital city was heavily influenced by Germanic immigration (Germans and the English with other British nations) and later arrivals of Spaniards, most notably the Basques. There has been efforts to increase population and economic industries involve forest lumber mills, corporate fisheries in lakes and the coasts, light industry involve canning and paper/pulp production, mountain recreation, winter sports (skiing lodges) and eco-tourism.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Economy

The primary sector dominates in the regional economy, which focuses on the exploitation and processing of marine, mining, forestry, and animal resources. Aquaculture is also an important activity and the region contributes 80% of Chile’s salmon output.

An industrial park, devoted mainly to producing frozen and, to a lesser extent, canned, products has developed around Puerto Chacabuco, Puerto Aisén, and Puerto Cisnes.

Although mining, based on polymetallic deposits of zinc, gold, and silver, makes a small contribution to Chile’s total mining GDP, it is significant in regional exports.

Exploitation of forests and the production of yard timber, plywood, and panels for furniture is mostly geared to export markets. Animal husbandry focuses on beef cattle, sheep, and sheep’s wool, part of which is exported.