Ovalle

Ovalle is a city in the Coquimbo Region of Chile,[3] founded in 1831 as a settlement. It has a population of more than 113,000 people. The name Ovalle was chosen to honor to Chile's vice-president, José Tomás Ovalle. Ovalle is the capital of the Limarí Province.

Ovalle
City and Commune
Flag
Coat of arms
Ovalle
Location in Chile
Coordinates: 30°36′S 71°12′W
Country Chile
Region Coquimbo
ProvinceLimarí
Founded1831
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeClaudio Rentería Larrondo
Area
 • Total3,834.5 km2 (1,480.5 sq mi)
Elevation
215 m (705 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)[2]
 • Total103,734
 • Density27/km2 (70/sq mi)
 • Urban
73,790
 • Rural
24,299
Demonym(s)Ovallean
Sex
 • Men47,805
 • Women50,284
Time zoneUTC−4 (CLT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−3 (CLST)
Postal code
1840000
Area code(s)56 + 53
ClimateBWk
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

The city's setting is often likened to an oasis, being lush and green although surrounded by barren hills.

There is a trail leading from the city that lasts roughly 50 minutes, and features relatively safe bathing and an area where dinosaur fossils can be found. On the trail is a life-sized model of a brachiosaurus.

The town's club is Deportes Ovalle. Famous players have played for the club, including 1982 FIFA World Cup player Rodolfo Dubó.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Ovalle spans an area of 3,834.5 km2 (1,481 sq mi) and has 98,089 inhabitants (47,805 men and 50,284 women). Of these, 73,790 (75.2%) lived in urban areas and 24,299 (24.8%) in rural areas. The population grew by 15.4% (13,107 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2]

Climate

The climate is semi-desertic with subtropical influence, with long summers and short winters. Ovalle have hot and dry summers, with temperatures between 22 and 40 degrees, occasionally with temperatures above 43 degrees. Thunderstorms can hit the city in February and March, but this happens normally in the surrounding areas Of Ovalle. Winters are humid and fresh, and its when rains occur. The temperatures in winter are generally lower than nearby cities like La Serena or Punitaqui; due to cold winds that come from the andes thru the ovalle valley. Temperatures rarely seats below -5 degrees, but when polar waves affect the area, temperatures can drop down to -12.

Climate data for Ovalle
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 46
(115)		 46
(115)		 43
(109)		 40
(104)		 35
(95)		 32
(90)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 34
(93)		 41
(106)		 45
(113)		 46
(115)
Average high °C (°F) 35
(95)		 32
(90)		 30
(86)		 27
(81)		 22
(72)		 17
(63)		 15
(59)		 19
(66)		 22
(72)		 24
(75)		 28
(82)		 32
(90)		 25
(78)
Daily mean °C (°F) 29
(84)		 26
(79)		 22
(72)		 17
(63)		 13
(55)		 11
(52)		 9
(48)		 12
(54)		 14
(57)		 19
(66)		 23
(73)		 26
(79)		 18
(65)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)		 21
(70)		 18
(64)		 14
(57)		 8
(46)		 6
(43)		 4
(39)		 6
(43)		 9
(48)		 14
(57)		 18
(64)		 21
(70)		 14
(56)
Record low °C (°F) 15
(59)		 12
(54)		 7
(45)		 0
(32)		 −8
(18)		 −11
(12)		 −17
(1)		 −16
(3)		 −3
(27)		 2
(36)		 2
(36)		 5
(41)		 −17
(1)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 2
(0.1)		 9
(0.4)		 4
(0.2)		 0
(0)		 20
(0.8)		 50
(2.0)		 20
(0.8)		 20
(0.8)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 125
(5.1)
Average relative humidity (%) 68 69 72 76 77 82 82 82 79 74 70 67 75
Source: Weatherbase [4]

Administration

As a commune, Ovalle 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 2012-2016 alcalde is Claudio Rentería Larrondo.

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Ovalle is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Pedro Velásquez (Ind.) and Matías Walker (PDC) as part of the 8th electoral district, (together with Coquimbo and Río Hurtado). The commune is represented in the Senate by Gonzalo Uriarte (UDI) and Jorge Pizarro Soto (PDC) as part of the 4th senatorial constituency (Coquimbo Region).

Public Square Kiosk
Vista de Ovalle
The Andean Mountains as seen from Fundina, Ovalle, Chile.

See also

References
  1. "Municipality of Ovalle" (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  2. "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  3. http://www.welcomechile.com/ovalle/index_i.html
  4. "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Ovalle, Chile". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
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