Lonquimay is a town and commune in the Malleco Province of southern Chile's Araucanía Region.

Transport

It is the terminus of an abandoned broad gauge railway project which supporters cited as the most practical railway route through the Andes to Argentina, but which lacks a link between Lonquimay and Zapala in Argentina; revival of the project was announced in 2005 and progress begun within Chile. The line includes Chile's longest tunnel measuring 4,563 m.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Lonquimay spans an area of 3914.2 sqkm and has 10,237 inhabitants (5,414 men and 4,823 women). Of these, 3,435 (33.6%) lived in urban areas and 6,802 (66.4%) in rural areas. The population grew by 12.5% (1,138 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.

Administration

As a commune, Lonquimay is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Guillermo Vásquez Veroiza (PPD). Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Lonquimay is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Enrique Estay (UDI) and Fuad Chahín (PDC) as part of the 49th electoral district, together with Victoria, Curacautín, Melipeuco, Vilcún, Lautaro, Perquenco and Galvarino. The commune is represented in the Senate by Alberto Espina Otero (RN) and Jaime Quintana Leal (PPD) as part of the 14th senatorial constituency (Araucanía-North).

Geography

Climate

Located in the Andes, at 900 m above sea level, Lonquimay has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb), with an average annual precipitation of 1990 mm. Summers have warm days and chilly to cool nights. Winters are chilly and wetter, with heavy snowfall. This climate favors winter sports, and at the foot of the Lonquimay is The Corralco Mountain and Ski Resort.