Tortel

Tortel
Commune
Wooden walkways in Caleta Tortel
Location of the Tortel commune in the Aisén Region Tortel Location of the Tortel commune in the Aisén Region
Coordinates: 47°47′49″S 73°31′59″W / 47.79694°S 73.53306°W / -47.79694; -73.53306Coordinates: 47°47′49″S 73°31′59″W / 47.79694°S 73.53306°W / -47.79694; -73.53306
Country	Chile
Region	Aisén
Province	Capitán Prat
Seat	Caleta Tortel
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Alcalde	Bernardo López Sierra (PPD)
Area
• Total	19,930.6 km2 (7,695.2 sq mi)
Elevation	7 m (23 ft)
Population (2012 Census)
• Total	487
• Density	0.024/km2 (0.063/sq mi)
• Urban	0
• Rural	507
Sex
• Men	322
• Women	185
Time zone	CLT (UTC−04:00)
• Summer (DST)	CLST (UTC−03:00)
Area code(s)	56 + 67
Website	www.tortel.cl

Tortel is Chilean commune located at the outflow of the Baker River and Pascua River to the Pacific Ocean. It lies between the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Field in the Capitán Prat Province in the Aysén Region. The commune is administered by the municipality in Caleta Tortel, the principal settlement.

According to the 2002 census of the Chilean National Statistics Institute, Tortel spans an area of 19,930.6 km² (7,695 sq mi) and has 507 inhabitants (322 men and 185 women), making the commune an entirely rural area. The population grew by 13.2% (59 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.

As a commune, Tortel 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 Bernardo López Sierra (PPD).

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Tortel is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Iván Fuentes Castillo (Nueva Mayoría) and David Sandoval (UDI) as part of the 59th electoral district, which includes the entire Aisén Region. The commune is represented in the Senate by Antonio Horvath Kiss (RN) and Patricio Walker Prieto (PDC) as part of the 18th senatorial constituency (Aisén Region).