Ñuble Provincia Provincia de Ñuble |
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Province | ||
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Location in the Bío Bío Region |
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Location in Chile | ||
Coordinates: 36°37′S 71°57′W / 36.617°S 71.950°WCoordinates: 36°37′S 71°57′W / 36.617°S 71.950°W | ||
Country | Chile | |
Region | Bío Bío | |
Capital | Chillán | |
Communes | ||
Government | ||
• Type | Provincial | |
• Governor | Ignacio Marín Correa | |
Area | ||
• Total | 13,178.5 km2 (5,088.2 sq mi) | |
Population (2012 Census) | ||
• Total | 460,113 | |
• Density | 35/km2 (90/sq mi) | |
• Urban | 285,108 | |
• Rural | 152,995 | |
Sex | ||
• Men | 217,024 | |
• Women | 221,079 | |
Time zone | CLT (UTC-4) | |
• Summer (DST) | CLST (UTC-3) | |
Area code(s) | 56 + 42 | |
Website | Government of Ñuble |
Ñuble Province (Spanish: Provincia de Ñuble) is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Bío Bío (VIII). It spans an area of 13,178.5 km2 (5,088 sq mi) and is administratively constituted by 21 communes. It has a population of 441,604 inhabitants. Its capital is the city of Chillán.
The province was created in 1848 with the San Carlos Department of Maule Province and Chillán Department of Concepción Province. In 1884, the departments of Bulnes and Yungay, were created from the Chillán Department. In 1927, the provincial limits were modified and the Itata Department was added from Maule. Later, in 1976, the communes of Coelemu and Ránquil from Concepción Province, and the commune of Tucapel from Bío Bío Province, were added.
Following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, at least eight small communities and two towns were abandoned by residents, who took up makeshift camps in the hills, fearful of further tsunamis. Over 800 residences in the town of Quirihue were destroyed, leaving little for townspeople to return to.
According to the 2002 census by the National Statistics Institute (INE), the province spans an area of 13,178.5 km2 (5,088 sq mi) and had a population of 438,103 inhabitants (217,024 men and 221,079 women), giving it a population density of 33.2/km2 (86/sq mi). It is the seventh most populated province in the country. Of these, 285,108 (65.1%) lived in urban areas and 152,995 (34.9%) in rural areas. Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population grew by 4.5% (18,854 persons).
Ñuble has a lot of attractions for tourists, including:
Other places of interest are the Market and Fair of Chillán, one of the more beautiful and important artisan centers of Chile. Murals by Siqueiros were donated by the Government of Mexico. There is also Bernardo O'Higgins Monumental Park in the locality of Old Chillán.