Illapel
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Illapel
| native_name =
| settlement_type = City and Commune
| image_skyline = Illapel.JPG
| image_caption =
| image_flag = Bandera Illapel.png
| flag_alt = Flag
| image_seal =
| image_shield = Escudo Illapel.png
| shield_alt = Coat of arms
| image_map = Comuna de Illapel.svg
| map_caption = Location of Illapel commune in the Coquimbo Region
| pushpin_map = Chile
| pushpin_map_narrow = yes
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt = Location in Chile
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Chile
| coordinates_footnotes =
| coordinates = {{coord|31|38|S|71|10|W|region:CL-CO|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Chile}}
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Coquimbo}}
| subdivision_type2 = Province
| subdivision_name2 = Choapa
| government_footnotes = {{Cite web |url=http://www.municipalidadillapel.cl/ |title=Municipality of Illapel|access-date=28 July 2010|language=es}}
| government_type = Municipality
| leader_title = Alcalde
| leader_name = Denis Cortés Vargas
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1752
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 2629.1
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 388
| population_total = 30074
| population_as_of = 2012 Census
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Illapelino
| population_blank1_title = Urban
| population_blank1 = 21826
| population_blank2_title = Rural
| population_blank2 = 8529
| demographics_type1 = Sex
| demographics1_title1 = Men
| demographics1_info1 = 14,940
| demographics1_title2 = Women
| demographics1_info2 = 15,415
|timezone = CLT
| utc_offset = −4
|timezone_DST = CLST
| utc_offset_DST = −3
| area_code = 56 + 53
| blank_name = Climate
| blank_info = BSk
| website = [http://www.municipalidadillapel.cl/ Official website] {{in lang|es}}
| footnotes =
}}
Illapel ({{IPA|es|i.ʝa.ˈpel}}) is a Chilean city, which is the capital of the Choapa Province, Coquimbo Region. It lies along the Illapel River and marks the country's narrowest point along a parallel (94 km). It is located to the east of Los Vilos.
Administration
As a commune, Illapel 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 was Denis Cortés Vargas (IND/JPM).
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Illapel is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Adriana Muñoz (PDC) and Luis Lemus (Ind.) as part of the 9th electoral district, (together with Combarbalá, Punitaqui, Monte Patria, Salamanca, Los Vilos, Canela). The commune is represented in the Senate by Evelyn Matthei Fornet (UDI) and Jorge Pizarro Soto (PDC) as part of the 4th senatorial constituency (Coquimbo Region).
Demographics
According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Illapel spans an area of {{convert|2629.1|sqkm|0|abbr=on}} and has 30,355 inhabitants (14,940 men and 15,415 women). Of these, 21,826 (71.9%) lived in urban areas and 8,529 (28.1%) in rural areas. The population grew by 4.6% (1,348 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
Earthquake of September 16, 2015
{{Main|2015 Illapel earthquake}}
On September 16, 2015, at 22:54:33 UTC (19:54:33 local time), a great earthquake of magnitude 8.3 hit the area, with an epicenter {{convert|46|km|abbr=on}} west of Illapel.{{cite web |url=http://www.geographic.org/earthquakes/real_time_details.php?id=nc72282711&lat=38.2153&lon=-122.3178 |title=Map of the earthquake M8.3 – 46km W of Illapel, Chile 2015-09-16 22:54:33 UTC |author=Global Earthquake Epicenters |publisher=Geographic.org |access-date=2015-09-17}} The earthquake caused physical damage, the loss of human lives, forced the evacuation of one million people from the coast (some sources mistakenly claimed a million people evacuated from Santiago), and a tsunami warning was issued for parts of South America, Hawaii, California and French Polynesia. Copper prices spiked in early trading, on fears of supply disruption.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-quake-idUSKCN0RG33E20150917 |title=Powerful quake hits off coast of Chile, some coastal flooding |author=Anthony Esposito |date=17 September 2015 |work=Reuters |access-date=2015-09-17}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{in lang|es}} [http://www.municipalidadillapel.cl/ Municipality of Illapel]
- {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120626021309/http://www.comercioillapel.com/ Comercioillapel.com Tu Brujula del Valle del Choapa]
{{Communes in Coquimbo Region}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Capitals of Chilean provinces
Category:Populated places in Choapa Province
Category:Populated places established in 1752
Category:1750s establishments in the Captaincy General of Chile