The region covers an area of 30,296 km2 (11,697 sq mi) and is bordered on the west by thePacific Ocean; on the east by theArgentina; on the north by theO'Higgins Region, and on the south by theÑuble Region.
From west to east, the region extends from the Pacific coast over theChilean Coast Range (Cordillera de la Costa) to include a portion of theChilean Central Valley, and theAndes mountains from the foothills to the crest.
There are a number of flora and fauna species present in Maule. For example, theendangeredChilean wine palm (Jubaea chilensis) is found in a very limited distribution that includes the Maule Region.[4] The limited-range and endangered treesNothofagus alessandrii andGomortega keule are also found in the region.[5]
According to the 2017census, the population of the region was 1,033,197. With one third of its population living inrural areas, Maule has a greater proportion of rural inhabitants than any other region of Chile. Its most populated city is the regional capital, Talca, with 235,000 inhabitants, followed by Curicó (120,700) and Linares (127,000). Other important cities are: Constitución (50,914), Parral (47,000), Cauquenes (43,000), Molina (42,000) and San Javier (40,000).
The average density of the Maule Region is 34.1 inhabitants per km2, with less dense areas towards the mountains, and dense areas in thecentral valley.
According to the composition pyramid of the population of the Region, those younger than fifteen years old are becoming greater in number than the adult population. The annual growth rate of the population of the Maule Region is 1.06%; this comparatively low figure arises from the low birth rate in the Region. The average life expectancy in the Region is 76.3 years.
Forestry andagriculture, led by wine grape plantations, are the main economic activities. The Maule region is Chile's leading wine-making region, producing 50% of all the country's fine export wines, and a number of the largest vineyards are located here. Owing to its high concentration of vineyards, theCuricó Valley, which means "black water" inMapudungun, is considered the core of Chile's wine industry. Wine-making is a traditional activity, some vineyards dating back to 1830. The increased wine-growing area is matched by the development of the industry's infrastructure, technology, and equipment.[citation needed]
In addition to wine, two export-oriented agricultural items have emerged dynamically: fruit, vegetables and flowers.[citation needed]
Electricity, gas and water are the second most important economic activity. The Maule River feeds five hydroelectric power plants, including theColbún-Machicura complex.[citation needed]
The Maule Region has produced a remarkable number of famous men and women, in particular writers and poets but also,statesmen and presidents, scientists andnaturalists, churchmen, musicians andfolklorists, journalists and historians. Thus, the Maule river, the long and wide artery that runs through the region, has been considered Chile'sliterary riverpar excellence. Many novels and short stories have had the river as their main background or protagonist. Several anthologies, author's dictionaries andessays have given their account of the cultural wealth of the region.[citation needed]
The region boasts of many small towns and villages with well-preserved colonial rural architecture, both in the religious as well as the civil fields. TheTalca andLinares dioceses (the two RomanCatholicdioceses in the Maule region) have severalparish churches of particular beauty and architectural and historic value.[citation needed]
At 03:34local time (06:34UTC), an 8.8 magnitudeearthquake occurred off the Maule coast approximately 11 km (7 mi) southwest ofCuranipe and 100 km (62 mi) north-northeast of Chile's second largest city,Concepción.[6] The earthquake lasted nearly four minutes,[6][7] severely affected the region through its action and the resultanttsunami.Cauquenes was damaged by the earthquake.[8]Constitución was damaged by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Restoring power in both cities in the immediate aftermath was impossible because of damage from the tsunami.[8]
The table shows the district number, the municipalities encompassed in each district and the names (and party) of the respective members of parliament.
The Maule Region is divided into two senatorial circumscriptions. One (Circumscription North) is composed of the provinces of Curicó and Talca and the other by the provinces of Linares and Cauquenes. Thus, senatorial circumscription North encompasses parliamentary districts 36, 37 and 38, and senatorial circumscription South encompasses parliamentary districts 39 and 40. Each circumscription elects two senators.
The table shows the circumscription name, the municipalities encompassed in each district and the names (and party) of the respective senators.
