Saavedra, Chile

Saavedra
View of Puerto Saavedra and its seawater lagoon


Saavedra
Location in Chile
Coordinates (town): 38°46′59″S 73°24′00″W / 38.78306°S 73.40000°W / -38.78306; -73.40000
CountryChile
RegionAraucanía
ProvinceCautín
Founded5 December 1895
Founded asBajo Imperial
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeRicardo Tripainao Calfulaf (PPD)
Area
 • Total
400.8 km2 (154.7 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (33 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)
 • Total
11,384
 • Density28.40/km2 (73.56/sq mi)
 • Urban
2,679
 • Rural
11,355
Sex
 • Men7,259
 • Women6,775
Time zoneUTC-4 (CLT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (CLST)
Area codecountry 56 + city 45
Websitewww.saavedra.cl

Saavedra (Spanish pronunciation: [saaˈβeðɾa]) is a commune of Chile in Cautín Province, Araucanía Region. The principal community and administrative centre of the commune is the town of Puerto Saavedra. The commune is named after the Chilean soldier General Cornelio Saavedra Rodríguez who was placed in charge of the occupation of the Araucanía in 1860. It has the highest percentage—though not the largest number—of Mapuche people in the region (64%, 2002 census). It is also the location for the 1991 movie "La Frontera".