Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII (the Biobío region), in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants (census 2002). The municipality ("comuna") of Los Ángeles has the highest absolute rural population of any Chilean municipality.
To the
north of the city is Salto del Laja (Laja Falls
), and roughly 100 kilometers to the east is the
2,979 meter high (9,774 ft) Antuco
volcano, in
the Andes mountain range. The city is a major
gateway for tourists visiting nearby Laguna del Laja
National Park
, home to the mentioned volcano.
History
Founded as
Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles in 1739 by
José Antonio Manso de
Velasco, it was originally a Spanish
fort as an outpost in the War
of Arauco. It received the title of
villa in
1748. The city underwent numerous rebuildings,
due to the Spanish military campaigns against the native
Mapuche in their efforts to colonize the area. Its
geographic location, just to the north of the Biobío river (the
border established by the Spaniards), made it a strategic
location.
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