Santiago Metropolitan Region
Encyclopedia
Santiago Metropolitan Region or simply Metropolitan Region is one of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

's 15 first order administrative division
Administrative division
An administrative division, subnational entity, or country subdivision is a portion of a country or other political division, established for the purpose of government. Administrative divisions are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own...

s. It is the country's only landlocked
Landlocked
A landlocked country is a country entirely enclosed by land, or whose only coastlines lie on closed seas. There are 48 landlocked countries in the world, including partially recognized states...

 administrative region and contains the nation's capital
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....

, Santiago
Santiago
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. Santiago may also refer to:*Santiago *Santiago , a Spanish given name*Santiago!, a shortened form of the Reconquista battle cry "Santiago y cierra, España"...

. Most commercial and administrative centers are located in the region, including Chile's main international airport, Arturo Merino Benítez.

With an area of 15403.2 sqkm and population over 6 million, it is Chile's smallest, most populated and most densely populated region. It is also the country's only region that does not have a Roman numeral identifier.

History

The region's history of European influence started in 1542, a few days after Santiago
Santiago
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. Santiago may also refer to:*Santiago *Santiago , a Spanish given name*Santiago!, a shortened form of the Reconquista battle cry "Santiago y cierra, España"...

 was founded. When the Santiago cabildo
Cabildo (council)
For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...

 was built, its function was to supervise the entire territory. Later, with the creation of the cities of La Serena and Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...

 and the creation of their respective cabildos, its territorial reach was reduced.

On August 30, 1826, 8 provinces
Provinces of Chile
A province is the second largest administrative division in Chile, after a region. Each region is divided into provinces. There are 54 provinces in total....

 were created, with the Santiago Province being one of them, but it wasn't until 1980 that the Metropolitan Region was created.

Geography

Metropolitana is Chile's only landlocked region and lies in the Intermediate Depression valley between the Chilean Coast Range
Chilean Coast Range
The Chilean Coastal Range is a mountain range that runs from north to south along the Pacific coast of South America parallel to the Andean Mountains, extending from Morro de Arica in the north to Taitao Peninsula, where it ends at the Chile Triple Junction, in the south. The range has a strong...

 and the Andes mountains. Cerro San Cristóbal dominates the sprawling Santiago cityscape at a height of 880 m (2,887 ft) above sea level with city suburbs steadily climbing the foothills of the Andes to the east. The Tupungato
Tupungato
Tupungato, one of the highest mountains in South America, is a massive stratovolcano dating to Pleistocene times. It lies on the border between the Chilean Metropolitan Region and the , near a major international highway about 80 km east of Santiago, Chile. It is located about south of Monte...

 stratovolcano
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...

, measures 6570 m (21,555 ft) on the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

 border, is one of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

's highest peaks.

The dominant drainage basin feeds into the Mapocho River; its main tributaries are the Maipo
Maipo River
Maipo River is the main river flowing through Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile. Its headwaters are on the west slope of Maipo volcano, in the Andes. Its most famous tributary is Mapocho River. The Maipo River is by far the major source of irrigation and potable water for the region.-Course:In...

, Yeso
Yeso River
-References:*...

 and Colorado rivers.

Climate

The region's warm, temperate climate prevails with long, dry periods. At higher elevations, temperatures drop and rainfall increases.

Economy and culture

The region's principal industries include manufacturing, services, retail, and financial services. The capital of Santiago serves as the country's administrative, industrial, commercial, financial and cultural center, producing 41.5% of Chile's gross domestic product
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....

, according to central bank estimates. The Plaza de Armas, the central square in downtown Santiago, hosts the city's cathedral and city hall. Eight city blocks around the presidential palace, La Moneda, are where most ministries, services and commercial banks can be found. Vitacura
Vitacura
Vitacura is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is one of the most expensive and fashionable areas of Santiago...

 and El Golf host most of the city's high-rise buildings and are also home to the Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages  – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...

n headquarters of several United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

 organizations. Though Santiago's expansion has caused newer vineyards to more rural locations, many of the country's oldest wineries, built in the 19th century, have preserved cellars in the valley.

Government and administration

The region is divided into 6 provinces
Provinces of Chile
A province is the second largest administrative division in Chile, after a region. Each region is divided into provinces. There are 54 provinces in total....

, which are themselves divided into 52 communes. The region is governed by the intendant
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...

, who is assigned by the president
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...

. In 2008, Igor Garafulic
Igor Garafulic
Igor Garafulic Olivares is a Chilean economist, academic, and former intendant of the Santiago Metropolitan Region under the 2006 - 2010 administration of president Michelle Bachelet.-Education:...

 replaced Álvaro Erazo as the region's intendant. The administration of each commune resides on the respective municipality.

The region's representatives in the Senate
Senate of Chile
The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.-Composition:...

 are:
  • Santiago Poniente (West): Guido Girardi
    Guido Girardi
    Guido Girardi Lavin is a Chilean physician and politician. He is currently serving the period between 2006 and 2014 as senator for the district No. 7 for Santiago Poniente...

     (PPD
    Party for Democracy
    The Party for Democracy is a political party in Chile; it is social democratic in its political orientation. It was founded in December 1987 by Ricardo Lagos, who aimed at forming a legal social democratic party . The party continued to function after the defeat of Pinochet...

    ) and Jovino Novoa (UDI).
  • Santiago Oriente (East): Soledad Alvear
    Soledad Alvear
    María Soledad Alvear Valenzuela , is a Chilean lawyer and Christian Democrat politician, who was a cabinet member of the Aylwin, Frei and Lagos administrations. She was president of the Christian Democrat Party from 2006-2008...

     (PDC) and Pablo Longueira
    Pablo Longueira
    Juan Pablo Longueira Montes in a Chilean right-wing politician, industrial civil engineer and Independent Democrat Union senator . He was previously a deputy . He launched his candidacy for president of Chile on March 30, 2007, but canceled it on May 3, 2007.-External links:* *...

     (UDI).

Political and administrative divisions of the Santiago Metropolitan Region

Province
Provinces of Chile
A province is the second largest administrative division in Chile, after a region. Each region is divided into provinces. There are 54 provinces in total....

Capital Communes
Chacabuco
Chacabuco Province
Chacabuco Province is one of six provinces of the Santiago Metropolitan Region in central Chile. It is located north of the Province of Santiago, which is entirely urbanized and part of the Santiago connurbation...

Colina
Colina, Chile
Colina is a Chilean city and commune, capital of the Chacabuco Province, in the northern part of the Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:...

  • 1 Colina
    Colina, Chile
    Colina is a Chilean city and commune, capital of the Chacabuco Province, in the northern part of the Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:...

  • 2 Lampa
    Lampa, Chile
    Lampa is a Chilean commune and city in the Chacabuco province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. Lampa is situated near the Chicauma mountain range, part of which was added to the La Campana National Park.-Demographics:...

  • 3 Tiltil

Cordillera
Cordillera Province, Chile
Cordillera Province is one of six provinces in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of central Chile. Its topography includes a small area of Chile's central valley, glaciers, rivers, volcanoes, and the Andes range, which forms the border with Argentina...

Puente Alto
Puente Alto
Puente Alto is a city and commune of Chile. It is the capital of the Cordillera Province in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Located at the south of the Greater Santiago conurbation, it houses 492,603 inhabitants , making it the largest city in Chile...

  • 4 Pirque
    Pirque
    Pirque is a commune of Chile in Cordillera Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region; it is located 2.8 kilometers SE of Puente Alto and 21.3 kilometers SSE of the center of Santiago. It is situated in a mountain chain.-Demographics:...

  • 5 Puente Alto
    Puente Alto
    Puente Alto is a city and commune of Chile. It is the capital of the Cordillera Province in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Located at the south of the Greater Santiago conurbation, it houses 492,603 inhabitants , making it the largest city in Chile...

  • 6 San José de Maipo
    San José de Maipo
    San José de Maipo is the name of a commune in Chile and the city within it, located in Cordillera Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region, some 48 kilometers south-east of capital Santiago, bordered on the east by the Argentina, across the Andes.-Demographics:...


Maipo
Maipo Province
Maipo Province is one of six provinces in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of central Chile. Its capital is San Bernardo.-Administration:As a province, Maipo is a second-level administrative division of Chile, governed by a provincial governor who is appointed by the president.-Communes:The...

San Bernardo
San Bernardo, Chile
San Bernardo is a Chilean city and commune. It is the capital of the Maipo Province in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardo.-Demographics:...

  • 7 Buin
    Buin, Chile
    Buin is a city and commune of Chile, in the Maipo Province, Metropolitan Region of Santiago, which forms part of Greater Santiago. It is a city conformed by the towns of Maipo, Viluco, Linderos, Valdivia de Paine, Alto Jahuel, Los Guindos and El Recurso...

  • 8 Calera de Tango
    Calera de Tango
    Calera de Tango is a Chilean commune in the Maipo Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Calera de Tango spans an area of and has 18,235 inhabitants . Of these, 9,932 lived in urban areas and 8,303 in rural areas...

  • 9 Paine
    Paine, Chile
    Paine is a Chilean city, forming part of Greater Santiago, and a commune in the Maipo Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Paine spans an area of and has 50,028 inhabitants . Of these, 31,622 lived in urban areas...

  • 10 San Bernardo
    San Bernardo, Chile
    San Bernardo is a Chilean city and commune. It is the capital of the Maipo Province in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardo.-Demographics:...


Melipilla
Melipilla Province
Melipilla Province is one of six provinces in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of central Chile. The provincial capital is the city of Melipilla.-Administration:...

Melipilla
Melipilla
Melipilla is a Chilean commune and capital city of the province of the same name, located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region southwest of the nation's capital...

  • 11 Alhué
    Alhué
    Alhué is a Chilean town and commune located in Melipilla Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Alhué spans an area of and has 4,435 inhabitants . Of these, 2,593 lived in urban areas and 1,842 in rural areas...

  • 12 Curacaví
    Curacaví
    Curacaví is a city and commune in the Melipilla Province of central Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Geography and climate:Immersed among the hills of the coastal mountain range, Curacaví occupies an area of and borders the following communes: Casablanca, Quilpué, Lampa, Pudahuel, Maipú,...

  • 13 María Pinto
    María Pinto
    María Pinto is a town and commune of the Melipilla Province in central Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, María Pinto spans an area of and has 10,343 inhabitants . Of these, 1,654 lived in urban areas and 8,689 in...

  • 14 Melipilla
    Melipilla
    Melipilla is a Chilean commune and capital city of the province of the same name, located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region southwest of the nation's capital...

  • 15 San Pedro
    San Pedro, Chile
    San Pedro is a commune of the Melipilla Province in central Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, San Pedro spans an area of and has 7,549 inhabitants , making the commune an entirely rural area...


Santiago Santiago
Santiago (commune)
The Commune of Santiago is the capital city of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, located at the center of the Santiago Province in Chile's Central Zone. Locally, Santiago is usually abbreviated Stgo. It is also called as "Santiago Centro" .-History:The city of Santiago was founded on February 12,...

  • 16 Cerrillos
  • 17 Cerro Navia
    Cerro Navia
    Cerro Navia is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is one of the most densely populated communes of Santiago, Chile.- History :...

  • 18 Conchalí
    Conchalí
    Conchalí is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is a northwestern suburb of Santiago.-Demographics:...

  • 19 El Bosque
  • 20 Estación Central
    Estación Central
    Estación Central is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. Its name comes from the Estación Central railway station located in the commune.-Demographics:...

  • 21 Huechuraba
    Huechuraba
    Huechuraba is a city and commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.Huechuraba has a mild mediterranean climate: relatively hot dry summers with temperatures reaching up to on the hottest days; winters are more humid, with typical maximum daily temperatures of ,...

  • 22 Independencia
  • 23 La Cisterna
    La Cisterna
    La Cisterna is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It was founded on 30 May 1925.-Demographics:...

  • 24 La Granja
  • 25 La Florida
  • 26 La Pintana
    La Pintana
    La Pintana is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. La Pintana is home to Antumapu, the agricultural and veterinary sciences campus of University of Chile Chile's oldest university.-Demographics:...

  • 27 La Reina
    La Reina
    La Reina is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It was created in 1963 from an eastern portion of the Ñuñoa commune...

  • 28 Las Condes
    Las Condes
    Las Condes is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. The area is inhabited primarily by upper-mid to high income families...

  • 29 Lo Barnechea
    Lo Barnechea
    Lo Barnechea is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is home to some of Chile's fanciest neighborhoods comparable to Beverly Hills and River Oaks...

  • 30 Lo Espejo
    Lo Espejo
    Lo Espejo is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It has the country's largest population density.-Demographics:...

  • 31 Lo Prado
    Lo Prado
    Lo Prado is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Lo Prado spans an area of and has 104,316 inhabitants , making the commune an entirely urban area...

  • 32 Macul
    Macul
    Macul is a commune of Chile located in the central-eastern part of Greater Santiago, bordered by the communes of Ñuñoa to the north, San Joaquín to the west, Peñalolén to the east and La Florida to the south....

  • 33 Maipú
  • 34 Ñuñoa
    Ñuñoa
    Ñuñoa is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. Its inhabitants are primarily a middle and upper-middle class....

  • 35 Pedro Aguirre Cerda
  • 36 Peñalolén
    Peñalolén
    Peñalolén is a Chilean commune in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It was founded on November 15, 1984.-Demographics:...

  • 37 Providencia
    Providencia, Chile
    Providencia is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. Part of Greater Santiago, it is bordered by the communes of Santiago to the west, Recoleta to the northwest, Las Condes and Vitacura to the northeast, La Reina to the east, and Ñuñoa to the south.In 2006...

  • 38 Pudahuel
    Pudahuel
    Pudahuel is a census-designated commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. Santiago's international airport Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez is located there...

  • 39 Quilicura
    Quilicura
    Quilicura founded in 1902, is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is a satellite city on what was originally the outskirts of the city of Santiago, but as urban sprawl has set in it is now quickly urbanizing from what was recently prime agricultural land...

  • 40 Quinta Normal
    Quinta Normal
    Quinta Normal is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is named after a large park in the area.-Demographics:...

  • 41 Recoleta
  • 42 Renca
    Renca
    Renca is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It was founded on May 6, 1894.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Renca spans an area of and has 133,518 inhabitants , making the commune an entirely urban area...

  • 43 San Miguel
  • 44 San Joaquín
    San Joaquín
    San Joaquín is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.The alcalde's office and municipal building is located at Ave...

  • 45 San Ramón
  • 46 Santiago
    Santiago (commune)
    The Commune of Santiago is the capital city of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, located at the center of the Santiago Province in Chile's Central Zone. Locally, Santiago is usually abbreviated Stgo. It is also called as "Santiago Centro" .-History:The city of Santiago was founded on February 12,...

  • 47 Vitacura
    Vitacura
    Vitacura is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is one of the most expensive and fashionable areas of Santiago...


Talagante
Talagante Province
Talagante Province is one of six provinces of the Santiago Metropolitan Region in central Chile. The capital is the city of Talagante, located approximately southwest of the national capital of Santiago...

Talagante
Talagante
Talagante is a commune and the capital city of the province of the same name in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of central Chile. The word Talagante in Quechua comes from talacanta, meaning "Lazo de Hechicero", which was the proper name of the curaca, or ruler, who dominated this central valley on...

  • 48 El Monte
  • 49 Isla de Maipo
    Isla de Maipo
    Isla de Maipo is a commune of the Talagante Province in central Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Geography:Isla de Maipo can be found in the Chilean Central Valley approximately southwest of the metropolitan area of Santiago and about from the city of Talagante. The commune spans an area of...

  • 50 Padre Hurtado
    Padre Hurtado
    Padre Hurtado is a Chilean city and commune in Talagante Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. A portion of the commune belongs to the Greater Santiago conurbation...

  • 51 Peñaflor
    Peñaflor, Chile
    Peñaflor is a city and commune of the Talagante Province in central Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.-Geography:It can be found in the Chilean Central Valley approximately southwest of the metropolitan area of Santiago...

  • 52 Talagante
    Talagante
    Talagante is a commune and the capital city of the province of the same name in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of central Chile. The word Talagante in Quechua comes from talacanta, meaning "Lazo de Hechicero", which was the proper name of the curaca, or ruler, who dominated this central valley on...



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