Huasco

Huasco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈwasko]) is a Chilean city and commune, in the Huasco Province, Atacama Region.

Huasco
City and Commune
Flag
Coat of arms
Huasco
Location in Chile
Coordinates: 28°27′59″S 71°13′09″W
Country Chile
Region Atacama
ProvinceHuasco
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeRodrigo Loyola Morenilla
Area
 • Total1,601.4 km2 (618.3 sq mi)
Elevation
30 m (100 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)[1]
 • Total8,977
 • Density5.6/km2 (15/sq mi)
 • Urban
6,445
 • Rural
1,500
Sex
 • Men3,999
 • Women3,946
Time zoneUTC−4 (CLT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−3 (CLST)
Area code(s)(+56) 51
ClimateBWh
Websitewww.imhuasco.cl

The port city of Huasco is located 50 km west of Vallenar and close to the town of Huasco Bajo, which lies on the southern bank of the Huasco River and only a few km from its mouth. The coastal route between Huasco Bajo and Carrizal Bajo provides one of the two accesses to Llanos de Challe National Park. The port was used between 1851 and 1873 to ship copper ore, copper regulus, alpaca wool and hides round Cape Horn to Swansea, Glamorgan and Wales.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Huasco had 7,945 inhabitants (3,999 men and 3,946 women). Of these, 6,445 (81.1%) lived in urban areas and 1,500 (18.9%) in rural areas. The population grew by 5.7% (429 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[1]

Administration

As a commune, Huasco 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 Rodrigo Loyola Morenilla.

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Huasco is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mr. Alberto Robles (PRSD) and Mr. Giovanni Calderón (UDI) as part of the 6th electoral district, (together with Caldera, Tierra Amarilla, Vallenar, Freirina and Alto del Carmen). The commune is represented in the Senate by Isabel Allende Bussi (PS) and Baldo Prokurica Prokurica (RN) as part of the 3rd senatorial constituency (Atacama Region).

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gollark: This could also be done.
gollark: SERIOUSLY? Ugh, Project COPPERY BLENDER will have to be modified.
gollark: Although that could be done via ARP too.
gollark: Oh, and if I work out where my USB WiFi stick is, network... device... existence?

References
  1. "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2010.
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