Aysén Region

The Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region is a major administrative division of Chile.

It is one of the 16 first-order divisions in the country. While it is the third largest region by land area, it is also the most sparsely populated. As of 2017, the population was 102,317 people. This means there are very few people living in such a large space. The capital city of the region is Coyhaique.

The region is officially named to honor General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo. A 1974 decree gave it this name to pay tribute to his administration.

The landscape of Aysén was shaped by ancient glaciations. These movements of ice created many lakes, channels, and fjords. The region is home to the Northern Patagonian Ice Field and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. These are the third largest ice fields on Earth, following only those in Antarctica and Greenland. In the northern part of the region, a string of volcanoes runs from north to south. The terrain changes significantly depending on your location. The western side is mountainous and covered in dense vegetation. The eastern side features open grasslands and rolling, flat terrain.

There are four distinct climate zones within the region. The western coastal areas have a cool temperate climate. These areas receive heavy precipitation throughout the year. For example, Puerto Aysén receives high amounts of rain. These storms are often driven by strong winds from the north and northwest. The winter months are typically the wettest. Because of the ocean, the temperatures stay relatively stable. The air is also very humid, often averaging 87% relative humidity. High cloud cover is a constant feature of these coastal areas.

Moving inland toward the east, the climate becomes more continental. Precipitation levels drop significantly in these areas. For instance, Cochrane and Coyhaique receive much less rain than the coast. Between May and August, the region receives about half of its annual precipitation. During these cold months, rain can fall as snow. The high altitudes of the ice fields create a much colder environment. Temperatures there are estimated to stay below 0°C to maintain the permanent ice. The easternmost parts of the region have a cold steppe climate. This area is much drier, with monthly precipitation often below 10 mm.

History shows that Aysén was one of the last major areas incorporated into the Republic of Chile. Permanent settlements first appeared during the second half of the 19th century. People began settling the inland parts around the turn of the century. For a long time, traveling through the region was very difficult. There were only primitive tracks to connect the north and south. This changed in the 1980s with the construction of Route 7. This road is known as the Carretera Austral, or the Southern Highway. It provided a vital overland route for the region.

The economy of Aysén relies heavily on its natural resources. The primary sector includes marine, mining, forestry, and animal resources. Aquaculture is a massive industry here. Aysén produces 80% of all salmon in Chile. In the western fjords, people focus on marine resources like sea urchins and locos. A fishing boom occurred in 1985 after merluza fishing grounds were found in the Moraleda Channel. Mining is also important, providing exports of zinc, gold, and silver. The forestry sector produces timber, plywood, and panels for furniture.

Animal husbandry is another key part of the regional economy. Farmers raise beef cattle and sheep for meat and wool. There is also a focus on Sphagnum bogs. These bogs contain Sphagnum, a type of moss that absorbs and releases water. Because of this, the extraction of Sphagnum is regulated by law. In 2024, new rules were established to manage how it is harvested. This is important because overexploitation could threaten the water supply in the archipelagos. The O'Higgins commune contains 28.5% of these important bogs.