Zona Sur - History

History

See also: Colonial alerce logging and trade

Southern Chile was during the time of Spanish conquest and colony populated by indigenous Mapuches from Toltén River northwards and by Huilliches south of the river, both groups are classified as Araucanian. The mountainous zones in the east were populated by Pehuenches Puelches. Until the Disaster of Curalaba and the following Destruction of Seven Cities around 1600 the southern zone was part of the General Captaincy of Chile and Spanish Empire. After 1600, the Spanish settlements were destroyed or abandoned with the exception of Valdivia that was re-founded in 1645 with heavy fortifications. The zone between Valdivia and Chiloé was gradually incorporated into Chile by a series of agreements with local Huilliches and founding of settlements. By 1850 this process was culminated with the immigration of thousands of German immigrants to Valdivia, Osorno and Llanquihue. The zone north of Valdivia was incorporated into Chile in the 1880s during the occupation of the Araucania.

Natural regions of Chile Natural regions Norte Grande Norte Chico Zona Central Zona Sur Zona Austral Not included Chilean Antarctic Territory Desventuradas Islands Easter Island Juan Fernández Islands Sala y Gómez

Coordinates: 39°19′48″S 72°20′20″W / 39.33°S 72.33889°W / -39.33; -72.33889