Curacautín

Curacautín
Fuerte Curacautín
View of Curacautín


Curacautín
Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 38°26′S 71°53′W / 38.433°S 71.883°W / -38.433; -71.883
CountryChile
RegionAraucanía Region
ProvinceMalleco Province
EstablishedMarch 12, 1882
Government
  TypeMunicipality
  AlcaldeJorge Saquel Albarran (Ind.)
Area
  Total
1,664.0 km2 (642.5 sq mi)
Elevation
542 m (1,778 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)
  Total
16,508
  Density9.9/km2 (26/sq mi)
  Urban
12,412
  Rural
4,558
DemonymCuracautinense(s)
Sex
  Men8310
  Women8660
Time zoneUTC−4 (CLT)
  Summer (DST)UTC−3 (CLST)
Postal Code
4700000
Area code56 + 45
WebsiteMunicipality of Curacautín

Curacautín, which means "Gathering Stone" in Mapudungun, is a commune and city in the Chilean province of Malleco. Curacautín is located 90 kilometres northeast of Temuco, in a valley near the volcanoes Tolhuaca, Lonquimay and Llaima, all of which can be seen from the city. Historically, it served as a highway of sorts for the Pehuenches that lived on either side of the Andes mountain range.