Puerto Varas

Infobox City
official_name = Puerto Varas
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imagesize =270px
image_caption =View of Puerto Varas


flag_size = 150px
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seal_size =
image_shield =
shield_size = 100px
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_size =


imagesize =270px
image_caption =View of Puerto Varas


flag_size = 150px
image_

seal_size =
image_shield =
shield_size = 100px
image_blank_emblem =
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mapsize = 200px
map_caption =Location of the Commune of Puerto Varas
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Chile
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Los Lagos
subdivision_type2 = Province
subdivision_name2 = Llanquihue
subdivision_type3 =
subdivision_name3 =
subdivision_type4 =
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government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Ramon Bahamonde
leader_title1 =
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leader_title3 =
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established_title = Founded as
established_date = Puerto Varas
established_title2 = Founded
established_date2 = 12 February, 1854
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 32912
area_total_sq_mi =
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population_as_of = 2002
population_note =
settlement_type =
population_total = 32912
population_density_km2 = 8.10
population_density_sq_mi =
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timezone = Chile Time (CLT) [cite web |url=http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-time.htm |accessdate=2007-05-05 |title=Chile Time |publisher=World Time Zones .org]
utc_offset = -4
timezone_DST = Chile Summer Time (CLST) [cite web |url=http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-summer-time.htm |accessdate=2007-05-05 |title=Chile Summer Time |publisher=World Time Zones .org]
utc_offset_DST = -3
latd= 41|latm= 19|lats= |latNS=S
longd= 72|longm= 59|longs= |longEW=W
elevation_m = 5
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =63
website = http://www.ptovaras.cl
footnotes =

Puerto Varas is a city and commune located in the southern Chilean province of Llanquihue, in the Los Lagos Region. The city is well known for its German traditions, its food, its fish and seafood, the natural environment, its casino and 4 star hotels.

Only 20 km from Puerto Montt, located on the shore of the Lake Llanquihue, one of the largest natural lakes in South America. The perfect cone of Osorno volcano and the snowcapped peaks of Mt. Calbuco and Mt. Tronador are clearly visible from the lakefront. On the western shore of Llanquihue Lake are the tourist localities of Puerto Octay, Frutillar and Llanquihue.

The city of Puerto Varas, also known as “the city of roses”, was founded in 1854 by Vicente Pérez Rosales. The city is named after Antonio Varas, minister of the interior during the presidency of Manuel Montt, when the city was founded. The Montt administration offered lands around lake Llanquihue for mostly German speaking Europeans (Germans, Swiss, Austrians, Silesians, Alsatians, etc) to settle and farm those lands. Puerto Varas was founded as the main port on the lake, connected by road to the nearest seaport, Puerto Montt. This homesteading program continued through the remainder of the 19th century.

The great growth of Puerto Montt (20 km south by highway), has spurred growth of Puerto Varas as a residential town and an important tourist destination. Puerto Varas now has an excellent hotel infrastructure, wide variety of restaurants, cultural events, in addition to being the departure point for fascinating tourist attractions in surroundings of dramatic geography turning it into the tourist capital of the Lakes Region.

References

External links

* [http://www.ptovaras.cl/ Town website]
* [http://www.flip360.cl/ver_local.php?id=1256&ver=panorama&idPanorama=1503 Virtual Tour in 360º of Puerto Varas | Flip360]