Biobío Province

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Biobío Province

| official_name =

| native_name = Provincia de Biobío

| native_name_lang = es

| settlement_type = Province

| image_skyline =

| image_alt =

| image_caption =

| nickname =

| motto =

| image_seal = Logotipo de la Gobernación del Biobío.svg

| image_map = Provincia del Biobío.svg

| mapsize = 175px

| map_alt = Location in the Bío Bío Region

| map_caption = Location in the Bio Bío Region

| pushpin_map = Chile

| pushpin_map_alt = Location in Chile

| pushpin_mapsize = 175

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Chile

| coordinates = {{coord|37|23|S|71|52|W|type:adm2nd_region:CL-BI|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Chile

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = Bio Bío

| parts_type = Communes

| parts_style = coll

| parts = List of 14

| p1 = Alto Bío Bío

| p2 = Antuco

| p3 = Cabrero

| p4 = Laja

| p5 = Los Ángeles

| p6 = Mulchén

| p7 = Nacimiento

| p8 = Negrete

| p9 = Quilaco

| p10 = Quilleco

| p11 = San Rosendo

| p12 = Santa Bárbara

| p13 = Tucapel

| p14 = Yumbel

| established_title =

| established_date =

| seat_type = Capital

| seat = Los Ángeles

| government_footnotes =

| government_type = Provincial

| leader_party = PRI

| leader_title = Governor

| leader_name = Christán Fuentes Fuentes

| unit_pref = Metric

| area_footnotes = {{cite web |url=http://www.ine.cl/canales/chile_estadistico/territorio/division_politico_administrativa/pdf/dpa_completa.pdf |format=PDF |title=Territorial division of Chile |access-date=18 March 2011 |publisher=National Statistics Institute |year=2007 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114052159/http://www.ine.cl/canales/chile_estadistico/territorio/division_politico_administrativa/pdf/DPA_COMPLETA.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2010 }}

| area_total_km2 = 14987.9

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m =

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 373981

| population_as_of = 2012 Census

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_demonym =

| population_blank1_title = Urban

| population_blank1 = 245,775

| population_blank2_title = Rural

| population_blank2 = 107,540

| demographics_type1 = Sex

| demographics1_footnotes =

| demographics1_title1 = Men

| demographics1_info1 = 176,960

| demographics1_title2 = Women

| demographics1_info2 = 176,355

| timezone = CLT{{cite web |url=http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-time.htm |access-date=28 July 2010 |title=Chile Time |publisher=WorldTimeZones.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911130719/http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-time.htm |archive-date=11 September 2007}}

| utc_offset = -4

| timezone_DST = CLST{{cite web|url=http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-summer-time.htm |access-date=28 July 2010|title=Chile Summer Time |publisher=WorldTimeZones.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911130451/http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-summer-time.htm |archive-date=11 September 2007 }}

| utc_offset_DST = -3

| postal_code_type =

| postal_code =

| area_code_type =

| area_code = 56 + 43

| website = [https://dppbiobio.gob.cl Government of Biobío]

| footnotes =

}}

Biobío Province ({{langx|es|Provincia de Biobío}}) is one of three provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío (VIII). Its capital is Los Ángeles (2002 pop. 94,716). It is bounded on the north, west and south by the provinces of Concepción, Arauco and Malleco, respectively, and on the east by Argentina. It has an area of {{convert|14,987.9|sqkm|0|abbr=on}} of well-wooded and mountainous country, and exports timber to a large extent.{{EB1911|inline=1 |wstitle=Bio-Bio (province)|display=Bio-Bio |volume=3 |page=952}} The population is 373,981 according to the census of 2012.

The great trunk railway from Santiago south to Puerto Montt crosses the western part of the province and also connects it with the port of Concepción. Los Ángeles lies {{convert|25|km|0|abbr=on}} east of this railway and is connected with it by a branch line.

History

The Province of Bio-Bío was created on October 13, 1875, as part of the province of Araucan. In 1887, President José Manuel Balmaceda set aside the Province of Malleco. The province was then named for the Biobío River which flows through it. The Province of Bio-Bío was divided, into three departments:

Department	Capital
class="wikitable"
La Laja	Los Ángeles
Mulchén	Mulchén
Nacimiento	Nacimiento

As part of the process of regionalization in the 1970s, the [[Biobío Region|Region of

Biobío]] was created. By Decree #1,213 of 27 of November 4, 1975, the VIII Region comprises the provinces of Bio Bío, Arauco and Concepción. Ñuble was formerly part of Biobío Province, before becoming its own region on the 5th of September 2018.

Administration

As a province, Biobío is a second-level administrative division of Chile, governed by a provincial governor who is appointed by the president.

=Communes=

The province is composed of 14 communes, each governed by a municipality consisting of an elected alcalde and municipal council.

Geography and demography

According to the 2002 census by the National Statistics Institute (INE), the province spans an area of {{convert|14987.9|sqkm|0|abbr=on}} and had a population of 353,315 inhabitants (176,960 men and 176,355 women), giving it a population density of {{convert|23.6|PD/sqkm|0|abbr=on}}. It is the tenth most populated province in the country. Of these, 245,775 (69.6%) lived in urban areas and 107,540 (30.4%) in rural areas. Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population grew by 9.1% (29,405 persons).

Bio Bío Valley wine region

The Bio Bío Valley wine region is located in the province and region of the same name. One of Chile's southern wine regions, it has become known for its crisp, aromatic wines.[http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-bio+bio+valley Bio Bío Valley Wine], wine-searcher.com. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.

The region is located at a latitude of 36°S, similar to southern Spain and Monterey in California. The majority of its vineyards lie between {{convert|50|m}} and {{convert|200|m}} above sea level with a moderate Mediterranean climate. It receives {{convert|1,275|mm}} of rain per year, among the highest of all Chilean wine valleys, although winds prevent excessive humidity - a phenomenon that can also be observed in northern France. For most of the 20th century, the main varieties grown in the Bio Bío valley were Moscatel de Alejandria and Pais (known as Missiones in USA), but today, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are also grown throughout the valley.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

The UK's Co-Op's Bio Bío Valley Malbec (2014) was awarded silver at the International Wine Challenge and a bronze from Decanter magazine.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/wine/susy-atkins-why-the-co-operatives-truly-irresistible-wines-are-e/|title=Susy Atkins: why the Co-operative's Truly Irresistible wines are exactly that|first=Susy|last=Atkins|date=29 June 2016|access-date=18 June 2019|website=telegraph.co.uk}}

=Grape distribution by varietal=

Climate: moderate Mediterranean climate. {{convert|1,275|mm}} of rain per year. Average rainfall is among highest seen in any Chilean wine valley, although winds prevent humidity.
Soils: Alluvial soils, clay and sand.
Primary grapes: Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc.

class="wikitable" style="background:#F0F8FF; font-size:95%;"

|Cabernet Sauvignon: {{convert|145|ha}}

|Pinot Noir: {{convert|158|ha}}

|Moscatel de Alexandria: {{convert|142|ha}}

|Pais (Mission): {{convert|1,148|ha}}

Total hectares planted: {{convert|446|ha|-1}}[http://www.winesofchile.org/chilean-wine/wine-regions/bio-bio-valley/ See Bio-Bío Valley Chart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203092356/http://www.winesofchile.org/chilean-wine/wine-regions/bio-bio-valley/ |date=3 December 2013 |accessdate=23 September 2013}}

Notes

Category:Provinces of Chile

Category:Provinces of Biobío Region