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Villarrica, Chile
Villarrica is a city in southern Chile located on the western shore of Villarrica Lake in the Province of Cautin, Araucania Region 746 km south of Santiago and close to the Villarrica Volcano ski center to the south east. Residents of Villarrica are known as Villarriquences (pronounced ''vee-ah ree-ken'-says '').
Tourism, grain and dairy farming, and forestry are the main economic activities of the community. The climate is mild and humid with the greatest rainfall experienced between May and July (autumn and winter). The dry season is between December and February (Summer).
Other lakes found nearby include Calafquen, Caburgua, Huilipilun and Colico. In the summer water sports and sunbathing are popular activities in the warm temperatures experienced at the low altitudes ranging from 200 to 500m above sea level.
Fishing and rafting are popular activities in the various rivers in the area, which include the Tolten, Voipir, Trancura, Llancahue and Lincura. Popular waterfalls include Leon, La China, Palguin, Ojos del Caburga. Thanks to the numerous volcanos, hot springs with temperatures ranging from 48°C to 90°C, are found nearby. Included are Conaripe , San Luis , Huife , Palguin and Liquine .
Villarrica National Park is 36 km away, and was created to preserve the natural beauty of the volcano. The area is noted for using wood as its principal building material.
Villarrica was founded in 1552 by Jeronimo de Alderete. It was destroyed in the Arauco War in 1602. It was refounded in the 1880s during the occupation of the Araucania. The population in 2002 was 45,531.
References
Microsoft Encarta 2007.
The most famous volcano in Villarrica is the Villarrica Volcano, of course.
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Villarrica, Chile
