Lebu, Chile


Lebu is a port city and commune in central Chile administered by the Municipality of Lebu. Lebu is also the capital of Arauco Province in Bío Bío Region. It lies on the south bank of the mouth of the Lebu River.
The commune includes Mocha Island.

History

Lebu was first settled a little up the Lebu River from the site of the current city at Fort Santa Margarita built by García Hurtado de Mendoza at the beginning of 1557 on the north bank of the Lebu River by the salto de Gualgalén, to the west of the ford of Cupaño. In 1566 Governor Rodrigo de Quiroga built a fort almost in the same place as the present city of Lebu under the command of captain Agustín de Ahumada. Besieged here by the Mapuche it was finally abandoned in 1569.
Fort Santa Margarita was destroyed in 1599, in 1603 it was rebuilt as Fort Santa Margarita de Austria by the Governor Alonso de Ribera.
In the 20th century the town developed as coal mining centre. The 1960 Valdivia earthquake destroyed numerous houses in the town.

Climate

classifies its climate as warm-summer Mediterranean.

Demographics

As a commune, Lebu 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 2008-2012 alcalde is Carlos González Anjari.
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Lebu is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Manuel Monsalve and Iván Norambuena as part of the 46th electoral district,. The commune is represented in the Senate by Victor Pérez Varela and Mariano Ruiz -Esquide Jara as part of the 13th senatorial constituency.

Administration

As a commune, Lebu 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 2008-2012 alcalde is Carlos González Anjari.
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Lebu is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Manuel Monsalve and Iván Norambuena as part of the 46th electoral district,. The commune is represented in the Senate by Victor Pérez Varela and Mariano Ruiz -Esquide Jara as part of the 13th senatorial constituency.