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1994
Chile (Center) - South America
Bec2004-09-20 17:19:06
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Valparaiso
Valparaiso, Chile's principal port and second largest city is 120 km from the capital.
I have often wondered about the factors that have determined the choice of a particular site for the founding of a new city. Sometimes the advantages of a particular site are so obvious that the question does not arise but, in my opinion, that is not the case for Santiago and Valparaiso. Why was Santiago built so far from the sea? Was there no port site better than Valparaiso, one where the city would have had room to expand?
I know that it's none of my business to ask such questions, but I just wonder how much weight chance and circumstances have relatively to logic in the making of such important decisions?
Vińa del Mar
As for Vińa del Mar, it obviously would not exist had it not been for its great sand beach and the proximity of the two big cities, Valparaiso 15 km and Santiago 135 km away.
Vińa del Mar is exactly the same as a number of places around the world such as Mar de Plata in Argentina, Acapulco in Mexico, Torremolinos in Spain, Durban in South Africa, Surfer's Paradise in Australia or Waikiki Beach in Hawai to name only a few of them. These places are so much alike that I think they must make an special effort to copy each other.
Andes
Just across the Andes, is the city of Mendoza in Argentina which is the southern limit reached by the roads of the remarkable Inca empire. The courageous but unorganised and nomadic Mapuche Indians were able to stop the Inca's progression no doubt partly because of the logistics problems caused by the 3000 km distance from Cuzco.
At about 120 kms from Santiago the bus has to climb this incredible series of switchbacks called "Los Caracoles" just before going through the "Cristo Redentor" tunnel to reach the border at an altitude of 3150 metres.
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See photographs from:
Chile Gallery
