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Countryside near San Fernando, roughly 135kms south of
Santiago. A particularly attractive and fruitful part of Chile. |
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Near San
Fernando, but a common sight almost anywhere in rural central Chile. |
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Curicó, Plaza
de Armas. Surrounded by vineyards, this small town lies 192kms south
of Santiago. In this square is a statue of the Mapuche warrior chief
Lautaro and a band shell built in New Orleans in 1904, which is a national
monument. |
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Near Curicó,
orchard and vineyards along the Rio Teno. |
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Lago
(Lake) Villarica, two views. This is one of a chain of lakes carved
long ago by glaciers as they receded into the Andes. The Lake
District is one of the most beautiful areas in South America, extending
into both Chile and Argentina, and is much frequented by local tourists. |
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Near
Riñihue, in the Lake District. These are some of the superb views
along a small spur road which leads off the main highway between Valdivia
and Osorno. For some ways, the road follows a rushing stream in
which I saw trout leaping out of the water! |
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Valdivia,
two views along the waterfront. Valdivia spreads along a sheltered
bay at the confluence of two rivers which join nearby to form the Rio
Valdivia. With a population of 120,000, it is 895kms south of
Santiago, and like the capital, was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in
1552. The area around Valdivia is home to a large number of
descendents of the German immigrants who arrived in the mid- to late 19C. |
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Valdivia, Plaza
de Armas and the center of the town. |
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Near Valdivia,
marsh. Hard to believe such a wild and natural scene exists only
about 4kms away from the Plaza de Armas in he picture above. |
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Frutillar,
street scene. Although practically dead at the time of my visit in
September, these small towns in the south come alive in the summer months
(January - March) as tourists flock to enjoy the spectacular natural
beauty all around. |
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Near
Puyehué, in the Lake District. Puyehué is on a minor road link
between Osorno, Chile and Bariloche, Argentina, and takes the name of the
lake on whose shores it is beside. |
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Angelmó,
two views. This small port is really a district of Puerto Montt, the
largest city in southern Chile with a population of 140,000.
Angelmó has become something of a tourist destination with its numerous
small handicraft shops and seafood restaurants, yet still retains some of
the atmosphere of a more traditional fishing village. |
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