Última Esperanza Province Provincia de Última Esperanza |
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— Province — | |
Location in the Magallanes and Antartica Chilena Region | |
Última Esperanza Province
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Coordinates: | |
Country | Chile |
Region | Magallanes and Antartica Chilena Region |
Capital | Puerto Natales |
Communes | Puerto Natales Torres del Paine |
Government[1] | |
• Type | Provincial |
• Governor | Max Salas Illanes |
Area | |
• Total | 55,443.9 km2 (21,407 sq mi) |
Population (2002 Census)[2] | |
• Total | 19,855 |
• Rank | 2 |
• Density | 0.4/km2 (0.9/sq mi) |
• Urban | 16,978 |
• Rural | 2,877 |
Sex[2] | |
• Men | 10611 |
• Women | 9244 |
Time zone | CLT [3] (UTC-4) |
• Summer (DST) | CLST [4] (UTC-3) |
Area code(s) | 56 + 61 |
Website | Government of Última Esperanza |
Última Esperanza Province (Spanish: Provincia de Magallanes, meaning "Last Hope Province") is one of four provinces in the southern Chilean region of Magallanes and Antártica Chilena (XII). The capital is Puerto Natales. A section of its border with Argentina in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field is under dispute.[5]
As a province, Última Esperanza is a second-level administrative division of Chile, which is further divided into two communes (comunas): Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine. The province is administered by a presidentially appointed governor. Max Salas Illanes was appointed governor by president Sebastián Piñera.[1]
Within this province, the noted Torres del Paine National Park, Cerro Torre and Cerro Chaltén is located, comprising some of the most spectacular mountain peaks of South America. Also part of the biggest non-polar glacier, the Southern Patagonian Ice Field is within Última Esperanza province. Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument, where prehistoric human occupation has been documented,[6] is also within this province.
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