Los Ángeles, Chile

Los Ángeles (Spanish pronunciation: [los ˈaŋxeles]) is the capital of the province of Bío Bío, in the commune of the same name, in Bío Bío, in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 186,671 inhabitants (census 2012). The municipality ("comuna") of Los Ángeles has the highest absolute rural population of any Chilean municipality.

For other uses, see Los Angeles (disambiguation).
Los Ángeles
City and Commune
Flag
Coat of arms
Map of the Los Ángeles commune in Bío Bío Region
Los Ángeles
Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 37°28′S 72°21′W
CountryChile
RegionBío Bío
ProvinceBío Bío
Founded asVilla de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles
FoundedMay 26, 1739
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeEsteban Krause
Area
 • Total1,748.2 km2 (675.0 sq mi)
Elevation
139 m (456 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)[3]
 • Total186,671
 • Density110/km2 (280/sq mi)
 • Urban
123,445
 • Rural
43,111
Demonym(s)Angelian
Sex
 • Men81,863
 • Women84,693
Time zoneUTC−4 (CLT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−3 (CLST)
Postal code
4440000
Area code(s)56 + 43
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

To the north of the city is Salto del Laja (Laja Falls), and roughly 100 kilometers to the east is the 2,979 meters (9,774 feet) high Antuco volcano, in the Andes mountain range. The city is a gateway for tourists visiting the nearby Laguna del Laja National Park, the location of the volcano.

Los Ángeles is served by María Dolores Airport.

History

Founded as Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles (Our Lady of the Angels) in 1739 by José Antonio Manso de Velasco, it was originally a Spanish fort as an outpost in the War of Arauco. It received the title of villa in 1748. The city underwent numerous rebuildings, due to the Spanish military campaigns against the native Mapuche in their efforts to colonize the area. Its geographic location, just to the north of the Biobío river (the border established by the Spaniards), made it a strategic location.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Los Ángeles spans an area of 1,748.2 km2 (675 sq mi) and has 166,556 inhabitants (81,863 men and 84,693 women). Of these, 123,445 (74.1%) lived in urban areas and 43,111 (25.9%) in rural areas. The population grew by 18.5% (26,021 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[3]

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Los Ángeles has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. Most of the annual precipitation of 42 inches (1070 mm) falls during the autumn and winter months of April through September. May is the wettest month, with 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation on average. Snow is uncommon, and when it falls melts quickly.[4]

Climate data for Los Ángeles
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 26
(78)		 20
(68)		 16
(60)		 13
(55)		 12
(54)		 13
(56)		 16
(60)		 19
(67)		 25
(77)		 28
(83)		 21
(69)
Average low °C (°F) 11
(52)		 11
(51)		 9
(49)		 7
(45)		 6
(43)		 4
(40)		 3
(38)		 4
(39)		 4
(40)		 6
(42)		 8
(46)		 10
(50)		 7
(45)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 23
(0.9)		 15
(0.6)		 25
(1)		 61
(2.4)		 250
(10)		 160
(6.4)		 160
(6.4)		 150
(5.9)		 120
(4.8)		 38
(1.5)		 23
(0.9)		 38
(1.5)		 1,070
(42.1)
Average rainy days 1 1 2 5 10 12 10 9 7 3 1 2 68
Average relative humidity (%) 59 65 66 74 86 86 85 83 77 71 66 60 73
Source: Weatherbase[5]

Administration

As a commune, Los Ángeles 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 2008-2012 alcalde is Joel Rosales Guzmán (UDI).[1][2]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Los Ángeles is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Juan Lobos (UDI) and José Pérez (PRSD) as part of the 47th electoral district, (together with Tucapel, Antuco, Quilleco, Santa Bárbara, Quilaco, Mulchén, Negrete, Nacimiento, San Rosendo, Laja and Alto Bío Bío). The commune is represented in the Senate by Victor Pérez Varela (UDI) and Mariano Ruiz -Esquide Jara (PDC) as part of the 13th senatorial constituency (Biobío-Coast).

The author Roberto Bolaño spent much of his childhood here.[6]

The 90's Alternative music artist Frank Black wrote a song about Los Angeles, the first track off of his eponymous album.

Education

International schools

  • Deutsche Schule Los Angeles[7]

References
  1. "Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  2. "Municipality of Los Ángeles". Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  3. "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  4. Climate Summary for Los Ángeles, Bío Bío
  5. "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Los Angeles, Chile". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
  6. Echevarría, ed., 2004, op. cit. «Recuerdos de Los Ángeles», pp. 204-205. [Published originally between September, 2002 and January, 2003 in the column Entre Paréntesis of Las Últimas Noticias.]
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