Untitled Document

VALPARAISO'S PLACE IN THE WORLD

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The city of Valparaíso is located on the Bay of Valparaíso, on the Pacific Ocean, and serves as Chile's chief seaport. Ninety miles west of the capital city of Santiago, Valparaíso is built on sixty cerros, hills that form the residential areas of the city. Many American visitors compare its landscape to that of San Francisco. Its agricultural resources come from the Aconcagua valley, directly east of the city, beyond the coastal mountain range. The site's climate is Mediterranean, with average temperatures ranging from 59F in winter to 68F in summer. The humidity remains low also, due to the Pacific's cold Humboldt currents flowing from the south.

Valparaíso claims about 300,000 inhabitants (282,168 in 1995), and, when coupled with its beachfront suburb of Viña del Mar, has double that number. It is the capital city of Chile's fifth region, and also the home of the national Congress. The Chilean navy headquarters and training facilities are located in Valparaíso as well. Four universities thrive in the city: the Catholic University of Valparaíso, the University of Valparaíso, the Technical University of Frederico Santa María, and the University of Playa Ancha, making students an important part of the Valparaíso's population. Unemployment rates in Chile hover around 10%, though those figures do not reflect underemployment or irregluar work. The GDP of Chile was $12,400 in 1999.

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The Chilean National Congress

Shipping is the main industry of Valparaíso. Naval and commercial ships from all over the world pass through the port, giving the city a unique international flavor, and a foreign presence not found elsewhere in Chile. Fishing is also an important occupation of many portenos, who harvest a variety or seafood from the depth of the Pacific. Tourists, both domestic and international are another major source of income for Valparaiso, though many travel instead to surrounding beach towns of Viña del Mar and Reñaca.

The city of Valparaíso is located on the Bay of Valparaíso, on the Pacific Ocean, and serves as Chile's chief seaport. Ninety miles west of the capital city of Santiago, Valparaíso is built on sixty cerros, hills that form the residential areas of the city. Many American visitors compare its landscape to that of San Francisco. Its agricultural resources come from the Aconcagua valley, directly east of the city, beyond the coastal mountain range. The site's climate is Mediterranean, with average temperatures ranging from 59F in winter to 68F in summer. The humidity remains low also, due to the Pacific's cold Humboldt currents flowing from the south. Valparaíso claims about 300,000 inhabitants (282,168 in 1995), and, when coupled with its beachfront suburb of Viña del Mar, has double that number. It is the capital city of Chile's fifth region, and also the home of the national Congress. The Chilean navy headquarters and training facilities are located in Valparaíso as well. Four universities thrive in the city: the Catholic University of Valparaíso, the University of Valparaíso, the Technical University of Frederico Santa María, and the University of Playa Ancha, making students an important part of the Valparaíso's population. Unemployment rates in Chile hover around 10%, though those figures do not reflect underemployment or irregluar work. The GDP of Chile was $12,400 in 1999.
. The Chilean National Congress	Shipping is the main industry of Valparaíso. Naval and commercial ships from all over the world pass through the port, giving the city a unique international flavor, and a foreign presence not found elsewhere in Chile. Fishing is also an important occupation of many portenos, who harvest a variety or seafood from the depth of the Pacific. Tourists, both domestic and international are another major source of income for Valparaiso, though many travel instead to surrounding beach towns of Viña del Mar and Reñaca.