| Official Name: | Melinka |
| Native Name: | Isla Melinca |
| Coordinates: | -43.8978°N -73.7439°W |
| Pushpin Map: | Chile |
| Pushpin Map Narrow: | yes |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location in Chile |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Chile |
| Subdivision Type: | Region |
| Subdivision Name: | Aisén |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Aisén |
| Subdivision Type2: | Commune |
| Subdivision Name2: | Guaitecas |
| Leader Title: | Alcalde |
| Leader Name: | Luis Antonio Miranda Chiguay |
| Population As Of: | 2017[1] |
| Population Total: | 1329 |
| Timezone: | Chilean Standard |
| Utc Offset: | −04:00 |
| Timezone Dst: | Chilean Daylight |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −03:00 |
| Blank Name: | Climate |
| Blank Info: | Cfb |
| Demographics Type1: | Sex |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Men |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 717 |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Women |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 612 |
Melinka is a Chilean town in Aysén Province, Aysén Region. It is located on Ascención Island and is the administrative center of the commune of Guaitecas since 1979.
The town is on a small peninsula off the main island, and shelters a small harbor. The island is in the Guaitecas Archipelago, at the southern end of the Gulf of Corcovado.[2] [3] Melinka is served by Melinka Airport and is connected by gravel road to the hamlets of Repollal.
Melinka is culturally similar to Chiloé Archipelago[4] but its inhabitants custom to bring dogs on board in their travels is likely rooted in native Chono traditions.[5] [6]
In 2017 Melinka had a population of 1329 inhabitants down from 1411 in 2002.[1]
Prior to its founding in 1860 the location of Melinka was known as Puerto Arenas (literally "Port Sand") by whalers who visited the area regularly.[7] Melinka was founded in 1860 by the German immigrant, Felipe Arnold Westhoff. Westhoff had been commissioned to supply railway sleepers to Ferrocarril Central Andino in Peru.[8] At the time the Guaitecas Archipelago was still part of Chiloé Province. In the first years of Melinka a series of indigenous tombs were discovered while building houses.[9] From Melinka Westhoff exported Pilgerodendron uviferum (es|ciprés de las Guaitecas) that made excellent wood for sleepers.[8] In 1870 the port was charted by Enrique Simpson on board Chacabuco.[10]
The famous pirate Pedro Ñancúpel was captured in Melinka in 1886 and bought into justice in Ancud the same year.[11] [12]
According to a local tradition the word melinka comes from Russian and means lovely. In fact, there is the Russian archaic colloquialism милёнка (transl. milyonka) which means "lovely."[13] Westhoff who came from Lithuania in the Russian Empire named Melinka after his sister.[12]
Melinka has a wet oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb).