Greater Valparaíso Explained

Greater Valparaíso
Native Name:Gran Valparaíso
Settlement Type:Metropolitan area
Pushpin Map:Chile
Population Total:1,036,127
Subdivision Type:Subdivision
Subdivision Name:Valparaíso
Viña del Mar
Placilla de Peñuelas
Reñaca
Concón
Quilpué
Villa Alemana

Greater Valparaíso (Gran Valparaíso) is the third largest metropolitan area in Chile, after the Greater Concepción and Greater Santiago. It takes this name after the city of Valparaíso, the oldest city of the group and the most important harbour in Chile. Its total population is 979,127 at the 2012 census, with an area of 401.6 square kilometers.[1]

Major cities

The agglomeration is composed of several communes (Spanish; Castilian: comunas), and each is governed by its respective municipality:

Communes

These communes have the following characteristics:

Infrastructure

Education

Gran Valparaíso also has the third largest concentration of universities in Chile. Besides the Traditional Universities, it has several private institutions, including Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Universidad Andrés Bello, and Universidad del Mar.

Transportation

There is a rapid transit light rail system which serves most of the communes in the conurbation: The Valparaíso Metro. Bus routes almost always span multiple communes and are organized via the .

Tourism

The area is a major tourist draw due to the internationally important Viña del Mar International Song Festival, its balnearios (beaches and resorts), and the world's largest pool San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo. The Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural significance.

References

-33.0461°N -71.6222°W

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ine.cl/canales/chile_estadistico/censos_poblacion_vivienda/censo_pobl_vivi.php Censo 2012 - Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas