Mancera Island

Mancera Island

Native name: Isla Mancera
Mancera Island, view from Niebla, Chile
Regional map
Geography
Coordinates	39°53′26″S 73°23′36″W
Adjacent to	Valdivia River
Length	1,300 m (4300 ft)
Width	650 m (2130 ft)
Highest point	89
Administration
Chile
Region	Los Ríos
Province	Valdivia
Commune	Valdivia
Demographics
Population	53 (2002)

Mancera Island (Spanish: Isla Mancera) is a minor island at the mouth of Valdivia River.

Prior to being named after the Marquis of Mancera the island was known as Güiguacabin (from ühueñn, "whistle", or ühua, "maize", and cahuin, "party") to the indigenous Mapuches. In his 1544 expedition Juan Bautista Pastene, made the island known for the Spanish and named it Imperial. Later the island became known to the Spanish as Constantino after its owner Constantino Pérez, then it was known for a time it was known as Santa Ines. The name finally settled as Mancera after the Spanish viceroy of Peru Pedro de Toledo, 1st Marquis of Mancera, who ordered the fortification of the island. The fort was a vital point in the Valdivian Fort System, preventing enemy ships from reaching Valdivia from Corral Bay.

In 1682, after Valdivia was badly damaged by a fire it was proposed to move the city to Mancera Island. A similar proposal of moving the city to Mancera Island was done in 1721 in order to protect it against a potential British attack as Spain and Britain were at war.

See also

• Valdivian Fort System
• Capture of Valdivia