Gran Valparaíso, Chile
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Gran Valparaíso (Greater Valparaíso) is the second largest conurbation in Chile, after Greater Santiago. It takes this name after the city of Valparaíso, the oldest city of the group and the most important harbour in Chile. Its total population was 803,683 at the 2002 census.
The aglomeration is composed of several municipalities comunas:
- Valparaíso.
- Viña del Mar.
- Concón
- Quilpué
- Villa Alemana.
These comunas have the following characteristics:
- Excepting Concón (considered a town), each comuna is recognized as an independent city in the Chilean census.
- Valparaíso, Viña del Mar and Concón are coastal cities. Villa Alemana and Quipué are located in inner valleys and belong to the group of cities known as El Interior (The Interior).
- Valparaíso and Viña del Mar have traditionally concentrated industrial and commercial activities, while Quilpué and Villa Alemana are primarily residential, and therefore often considered ciudades dormitorio (bedroom communities).
Gran Valparaíso also has the second largest concentration of universities in Chile. Besides the Traditional Universities, it has several private institutions, including Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez.
There is a metro system which serves most of the "comunas" in the conurbation: The Gran Valparaíso Metro System
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| Gran Valparaíso | |
|---|---|
| Cities | Valparaíso | Viña del Mar | Concón | Quilpué | Villa Alemana |
| Universities | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso | Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María | Universidad de Valparaíso | Universidad de Playa Ancha |
| Culture & Sports | El Mercurio de Valparaíso | Santiago Wanderers |
