Diario las Américas., 1958-04-30
Know thy
Neighbor
BY ANTONIO RUIZ

CHILE - The Province of Val
DIVA, with a population of
about 240,0 600 is one of the most
progressive and Industrious re-
gionS of Southern Chile. Its we'll
developed industries, its incalcul-
able lumber reserves, its prosperous
agriculture, and its rich coal de-
posits are sources of substantial
income not only for the region
but for the country in general.
On the other hand, its Importance
as a tourist center is another fact
or contributing to the progress of
that prosperous province.
The City of Valdivia the capital,
was founded in 1852 by the Span
ish conqueror Pedro de Valdivia,
who had the vision to locate it in
an strategic point for the rug,
gle against the indomitable Arau-
~canians. In 1920, Lord Thomas Co.
chrane conquered it definitely
from Spanish dominion. The pros
perity of Valdivia began in the
middle of the 10th century, at the
time of the arrival of German
%colonists, and since then the rhy-
thin of its progress has been I'M
interrupted.
The city has now more than
10000 inhabitants, is proud of its
modern buildings, as well as of all
kinds of up to date public servi-
ces, and is an active commercial
and industrial center. Specially de-
veloped are its beer and show
factories, and the shipyards. Per-
haps there is no other city in the
world with so many rivers con
verging on it and its surrounding
territory. They r the rivers Gale
Gale, Valdivia, Cruces, Cau-Cau,
Angachilla, Futa and Tornagaleo-
mes, which besides facilitating the
interchange of regional products,
are the best means of communica-
ton for very interesting excur-
sions.
Many and very interesting are
the places surrounding Valdivia,
especially those connected to it
by the numerous waterways. Not
far from the commercial center
of the city, and located among the
rivers Calle.Calle, Cau-Cau and
Cruces, is the island of Teja, where
there are very important industrial
establishments. The island has an
area of approximately Is square
miles, and is crossed by the salt
marsh of Coipo, which is navig-
able by small ships, sail and oar,
which can be hired at the main
pier. The island has beautiful
evergreen and oak forests, as
well as very nice beaches adequate
for swimming.
North of the island Is the lag
COON of the Park of the Agricul-
tural Society of Valdivia, in which
thousands of water-lillies can be
seen floating. This park where
the society carries on its yearly
exhibitions, is visited by thousands
of tourists. Other places, just as
attractive are located along the
shores of the Valdivia River, in
Guiding Toro Baho, Niebla, Corral,
and Amargos, the last two sea
resorts; and Angachilla, on the
shore of the river of the same
name, which is a tributary of the
Valdivia. Further on, along the
Valdivia, to the southwest, is the
great Island of the King, which is
full of fruit groves and forests.
There is a good hotel, the Santa
Lucia, with all the modern con-
veniences and a good beach for
swimming The trip to the pic
turesque island is made in small
steam boats, and is very interest
ing all along the way.
Also of great beauty and great
interest to the tourist are the
small villages of Collico, Chum-
pullo and Santa Elvira, east of the
city, and along the Calle-Calle Riv-
er, Coyinhue, Paico and Patabla,
to the north, and the picturesque
village of Futa, located on the
shore of the river of the same
name, which runs through can
yons formed by high wooden hills.
Spanish Version Page 3