Pichilemu

''''* (Mapudungun for *small forest* pronunciation) is a city and commune of the central zone (centre part) of Chile. It is the capital of the Province of Cardenal Caro.

The beach of Pichilemu is called one of the best beaches in the world for surfing. The most famous beach in Pichilemu is Punta de Lobos, where competitions are often held. The city has become a beach resort.

## History 
 places such as the Ross Casino.|Agustín Ross, circa 1915. ]]
Promoucaes were the first people that populated Pichilemu. They were hunter gatherers and fishermen.

In 1887, President José Manuel Balmaceda decreed Pichilemu as a minor dock.

José Toribio Medina did his first archeological investigations in Pichilemu, and he published in 1908 *Los Restos Indígenas de Pichilemu''. He said there that Pedro de Valdivia gave land in what is now central Chile to Juan Gómez de Almagro on February 24, 1544. Pichilemu was between the areas of the Palloquierbico, Topocalma, and Gulaquien.

The name Pichilemu comes from the Mapudungún words '** (little) and **' (forest).

Some of the first land owners of Pichilemu were the Ortúzar family. Daniel Ortúzar is known as one of the founders of the original village of Pichilemu. During the war, the dock was burned down. After the civil war, Pichilemu got its formal name and status. President Jorge Montt and his Minister, Manuel José Irarrázabal, the city was officially established on December 22, 1891.

Pichilemu has become the historic capital of the province called Cardenal Caro which is named for the first Chilean Catholic Church Cardinal. His father was the first mayor in the city.

Agustín Ross Edwards was a Chilean writer, Member of Parliament, minister and politician.
Ross was very rich and based on his European background, he bought a 300-hectare piece of land and named it "*La Posada*" (), or Petren Fund, in 1885. Ross designed an urban place of high environmental value and landscape, turning "*La Posada*" into a hotel (*Great Hotel Pichilemu*, later *Hotel Ross*, or *Ross Hotel*), and building a casino, embankments, stone walls, a balcony facing the beach. Additionally, he built a park and a forest of more than 10 hectares. Agustín Ross turned Pichilemu into a summer resort town for the people from Santiago. Some of his buildings were named National Monuments.

## Geography and climate 
Pichilemu is located  west of San Fernando, Chile and just east of the Pacific Ocean. It is around a three-hour drive to the Andes Mountains. It is also near the coastal mountain range.

Even though most of the forest areas around Pichilemu are covered in Pine and Eucalyptus trees, a native forest (now Municipal Forest) is still there It contains species such as Litres, Quillayes, Boldos, Espinos and Peumos.

Pichilemu borders Litueche to the north, Paredones  to the south, Marchigüe and Pumanque to the east, and the Pacific Ocean  to the west .

## Demographics 
In the 17th century, Pichilemu had 1,468 inhabitants.

## Government and politics 
 in March 2007.]]
Pichilemu, along with the communes of Placilla, Nancagua, Chépica, Santa Cruz, Pumanque, Palmilla, Peralillo, Navidad, Lolol, Litueche, La Estrella, Chile, Marchihue and Paredones, is part of the Electoral District N° 35 and belongs to the 9th Senatorial Constituency (O'Higgins) of the electoral division of Chile.

The current Mayor of Pichilemu is Roberto Córdova. The last popularly-elected mayor was Marcelo Cabrera, elected in 2008 with 42.08% of the vote, who served from May 2009 to August 2009 due to legal action. The municipal council selected Córdova as the new mayor on September 9, 2009, According to travel guide Fodor's,

Every October and December the International Championship of Surf takes place at La Puntilla Beach. Punta de Lobos hosts the *Campeonato Nacional de Surf* () each summer.

Las Terrazas Beach () is the busiest beach during the summer. Many surf schools, *La Ola Perfecta* and *Lobos del Pacífico*, are found near the beach, as is the Caleta de Pescadores (), where fisherman sell their fish. Several surf contests are held there, including an international big-wave contest during the Chilean fall. The size of waves varies throughout the year, but large swells in fall and winter can reach heights of up to 50 feet (15 metres). It is widely considered one of the best beaches for surfing worldwide.

## Gallery 

Image:Casino Ross.jpg
Image:Hotel Ross.jpg
File:Estación de ferrocarriles de Pichilemu 2012-09-20 19-16-28.jpg
Image:Biblioteca Pública de Pichilemu.jpg
Image:Punta de lobos.jpg
Image:Quiosco Janita 2.jpg
Image:Salinas Cahuil.jpg
Image:Villa los navegantes.JPG|Los Navegantes

## References 
## Other websites 
* Pichilemu's official website