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Temuco
It's the capital city of the IX region (Araucanía) and
the third biggest city in the country, with almost
300.000 inhabitants. It occupies the plain between
Ñielol hill and Cautín river. It's less than 90 Km. from
the Pacific ocean, by paved route, and directly
communicated to Pino Hachado pass, also paved and the
closest to Alto Valle del Río Negro in Argentina.
Brief history
Since the mapuche uprising of 1599 -which obliged the spanish
people to get back to the north of Bío Bío river-, until
second part of XIX century, Araucanía was a territory
forbidden for the "huinca" (white people).
The foundation of Temuco in 1881 had only military objectives
and succeeded expanding the Republic's frontier.
Designed by german engineer Teodoro Schmidt, by 1893 Temuco
already had railway and in1910 possessed several banks, seven
newspapers (one in german), hotels, beer factory, casino and
more than 10.000 inhabitants, mostly european settlers
attracted by the possibility of obtaining lands and by the
works on expanding the railway.
Literature Nobel prize Pablo Neruda lived in Temuco for a
period of time . Another Nobel too, poet Gabriela Mistral, was
director of the Girls Lyceum, today with her name.
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