Puerto Octay
| Puerto Octay | ||
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Coordinates: 40 ° 50 ′ S , 72 ° 54 ′ W Puerto Octay on the Los Lagos map
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| Basic data | ||
| Country | Chile | |
| region | Región de los Lagos | |
| City foundation | December 22, 1891 | |
| Residents | 8999 (2017) | |
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| Detailed data | ||
| surface | 1796 km² | |
| Population density | 0.01 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| height | 250 m | |
| Time zone | UTC −4 | |
| City Presidency | Maria Elena Ojeda (UDI) | |
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Puerto Octay is a village with about 9000 inhabitants (2017) in the south of Chile in the Región de los Lagos (Region X).
The village is located on the north shore of Lake Llanquihue near the Centinela peninsula . With around 860 square kilometers, it is the second largest lake in Chile. If you look to the east, you can see the mighty Volcán Osorno , the summit of which is 2652 meters above sea level.
Puerto Octay is a strongly German city with many buildings from around 1910 that follow a German architectural tradition.
history
From 1852, German immigrants settled the area around Lake Llanquihue. Today's Puerto Octay was founded by them in that year and was initially called Puerto Muñoz Gamero. It has had its current name since 1859.
On December 22, 1891, Puerto Octay commune was officially established. It owes its name to one of its first residents. Cristino Ochs, of German descent, owned a shop that became a synonym for the place: the expression “Donde Ochs hay” (“Where there are ox”) changed to Octay.
economy
Tourism is the main economic pillar of Puerto Octay. The place serves as a starting point for excursions around Lake Llanquihue and the Volcán Osorno. Several beaches on Lake Llanquihue around Puerto Octay are popular with tourists in summer.
The Museum Museo El Colono documents the German settlement from the middle of the 19th century. The Galpón Museum shows the history of the indigenous people.
There is intensive agriculture in the area, sometimes with large livestock. Forestry and fishing are other economic factors.
From Puerto Octay ships sail daily across the lake to Puerto Varas . From here you can easily reach the capital of the Puerto Montt region .
