Arauco, Chile

Arauco
Arauco
Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 37°15′S 73°19′W / 37.250°S 73.317°W / -37.250; -73.317
CountryChile
RegionBío Bío
ProvinceArauco
Founded1552
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeJuan Mauricio Alarcón Guzmán
Area
 • Total
956.1 km2 (369.2 sq mi)
 As of 2002
Elevation
12 m (39 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)
 • Total
34,902
 • Density36.50/km2 (94.55/sq mi)
 • Urban
24,269
 • Rural
10,604
DemonymAraucano
Sex
 • Men17,603
 • Women17,270
Time zoneUTC−4 (CLT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−3 (CLST)
Area code56 + 41
ClimateCsb
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

Arauco is a city and commune (Spanish: comuna) in Chile, located in Arauco Province in the Bío Bío Region. The region was a Moluche aillarehue. The Spanish settlements founded here during the Conquest of Chile were destroyed on numerous occasions by the Mapuche during the Arauco War.