Bío Bío Region

administrative division of Chile

The Bío Bío Region (Spanish: Región del Biobío) is one of Chile's 16 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Concepción, the second city of Chile after the national capital, Santiago.

Biobío Region
Región del Biobío
Flag of Biobío Region
Coat of Arms of Biobío Region
Map of Biobío Region
Map of Biobío Region
Coordinates: 36°50′S 73°03′W / 36.833°S 73.050°W / -36.833; -73.050
Country Chile
CapitalConcepción
ProvincesBiobío, Concepción, Arauco
Government
 • IntendantJorge Ulloa Aguillón (UDI)
Area
 • Total23,890.2 km2 (9,224.1 sq mi)
 • Rank10
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2017 census)[2]
 • Total1,557,414
 • Rank3
 • Density65/km2 (170/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeCL-BI
HDI (2019)0.826[3]
very high
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

The region is named after its main river: the Bío Bío river.

History

The Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded the city of Concepción in 1550 at the mouth of the Bío Bío river. He died in 1553 during the Arauco War against the Mapuche people.

The Region has been hit by many earthquakes, including the most powerful earthquake ever recorded (the Great Chilean Earthquake in 1960) and the earthquake of 2010, when many communities in the region were greatly affected by the earthquake and the following tsunami.

Geography

The Bío Bío region has area of 23,890.2 square kilometres (9,224.1 square miles).[4]

It borders the Ñuble region to the north, Argentina to the east, the Araucanía region to the south and the Pacific Ocean on the west.[4]

The main river in the region is the Bío Bío River. It is 380 kilometres (236 miles) long. It is the second longest river of Chile after the Loa River.

Population

The Bío Bío Region has 1,557,414 inhabitants (2017 census). It is the third region by population, after the Valparaíso Region. Its population density was 65.2.

Administration

The Bío Bío region is further subdivided into three provinces: Arauco, Bío Bío and Concepción.

Bío Bío Region - Provinces and comunas
ProvinceCapitalCodeComunaArea[4]
(km²)
Population[4]
(2002)
Concepción (081)Concepción0810123 Concepción221.6216,061
0810224 Coronel279.495,528
0810322 Chiguayante71.581,302
0810425 Florida608.610,177
0810527 Hualqui530.518,768
0810628 Lota135.849,089
0810729 Penco107.646,016
0810830 San Pedro de la Paz112.580,447
0810931 Santa Juana731.212,713
0811032 Talcahuano92.3163,626
0811133 Tomé494.552,440
0811226 Hualpén53.586,722
Total of Concepción province3,439.0912,889
Arauco (082)Lebu
082015 Lebu561.425,035
082021 Arauco956.134,873
082032 Cañete1,089.231,270
082043 Contulmo638.85,838
082054 Curanilahue994.331,943
082066 Los Álamos599.118,632
082077 Tirúa624.49,664
Total of Arauco province5,463.3157,255
Bío Bío (083)Los Ángeles
0830112 Los Ángeles1,748.2166,556
08302  9 Antuco1,884.13,908
0830310 Cabrero640.825,282
0830411 Laja339.822,404
0830513 Mulchén1,925.329,003
0830614 Nacimiento934.925,971
0830715 Negrete156.58,579
0830816 Quilaco1,123.74,021
0830917 Quilleco1,121.810,428
0831018 San Rosendo92.43,918
0831119 Santa Bárbara1,254.912,943
0831220 Tucapel914.912,777
0831321 Yumbel727.020,498
08314  8 Alto Biobío2,124.67,027
Total of Bío Bío province14,987.9353,315
Total of the region37,068.71,861,562

References

Other websites

Regions of Chile
Arica y Parinacota | Tarapacá | Antofagasta | Atacama | Coquimbo | Valparaíso | O'Higgins | Maule | Ñuble | Bío Bío | La Araucanía | Los Ríos | Los Lagos | Aysén | Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena | RM Santiago