Caleta Tortel
Caleta Tortel | |
|---|---|
 View of Caleta Tortel with its wooden walkways | |
| Region | Aisén |
| Province | Capitán Prat |
| Municipalidad | Tortel |
| Comuna | Tortel |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipalidad |
| • Alcalde | Bernardo López Sierra |
| Population (2002 census[1]) | |
| • Total | 320 |
| Time zone | UTC-4 hours (Chilean Standard) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 hours (Chilean Daylight) |
| Area code | Country + town = 56 + ? |
| Website | http://www.municipalidaddetortel.cl/ |
Caleta Tortel is a coastal village (Spanish: aldea) in Chile. It is the administrave centrer of the commune of Tortel and is located between the mouth of the Baker River and a small embayment of the Baker Channel. The village is inserted in an area of rugged geography, formed by a number of islands, fjords, channels and estuaries. It was founded in 1955 to exploit the cypress (Pilgerodendron uviferum) wood that was abundant in the area. The timber business accounts for most of the economy in Tortel until today. For most of its history the village had only air and boat access; the road was constructed only in 2003.
Caleta Tortel consists mainly of stilt houses, typical of Chilota architecture, built along the coast for several kilometers. There are no conventional streets - instead there are wooden walkways. This gives the village its distinctive look.
Boat tours to Jorge Montt Glacier, are available from the village. The village has ain airstrip (600m long and 23m wide).