Antártica (commune) explained

Official Name:Antártica
Settlement Type:Commune
Established Title:Foundation
Established Date:11 July 1961
Leader Title:Mayor of Cabo de Hornos
Leader Party:DC
Leader Name:Patricio Fernández
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1: Magallanes Region
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Antártica Chilena
Population As Of:2002 Census
Population Total:127
Population Density Km2:0.00009
Population Demonym:Antarctic (Antártico, -a)
Area Total Km2:1,250,257.6

Antártica is a Chilean commune in Antártica Chilena Province, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, which covers all the Chilean Antarctic Territory (the territory in Antarctica claimed by Chile). It ranges from 53°W to 90°W and from the South Pole to 60°S, overlapping the Argentine and British Antarctic claims, and is the largest and least populated commune in Chile, being over 25 times the size of the next largest commune, Natales. It is administered by the Cabo de Hornos municipality in the South American mainland.

Antártica was created on 11 July 1961, and was dependent on the Magallanes Province until 1975, when the Antártica Chilena Province was created, making it dependent administratively on Puerto Williams, the province capital.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Antártica spans an area of 1250000sqkm and has 130 inhabitants (115 men and 15 women), making the commune an entirely rural area. The population fell by 11.5% (15 people) between the 2002 and 2012 censuses. This does not include the staff of non-Chilean bases in the area.

Census districts

The commune consists of two census districts:[1]

Administration

The commune is governed from Puerto Williams in the Cabo de Hornos commune from its municipal office located at O'Higgins 165.[4] Chilean law allows a municipality to govern more than one commune, however, this is the only such case. As a commune, Antártica is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2016-2020 alcalde is Patricio Fernández (DC).[5] The communal council has the following members:

Daniel Fernando Valdebenito Contreras (PS) Ángela Barría Barrientos (RN) Juan Velásquez (PS) Carolina Guenel González (DC) Francis Delgado Ibaceta (RN) Paola Speake Ojeda (DC)

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Antártica is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Juan Morano (PDC) and Gabriel Boric (Ind.) as part of the 60th electoral district, which includes the entire Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region. The commune is represented in the Senate by Carlos Bianchi Chelech (Ind.) and Carolina Goic (PDC) as part of the 19th senatorial constituency (Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region).

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Territorial division of Chile . PDF . 11 September 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101114052159/http://www.ine.cl/canales/chile_estadistico/territorio/division_politico_administrativa/pdf/DPA_COMPLETA.pdf . 14 November 2010 .
  2. Web site: Antártica . Subdere . 27 February 2024 . es.
  3. https://www.leychile.cl/Navegar?idNorma=7020&;idVersion=1979-10-26 Decreto ley 2868
  4. Web site: Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades . 27 January 2011. es.
  5. Web site: Municipality of Cabo de Hornos . 27 January 2011. es.