Leg 86 SCCH - Chillan (Chile) to SCEL - Santiago (Chile)
SCCH - Airport Info
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ICAO code: SCCH
Airport name: Gen. Bernardo O'Higgins Airport
Location: Chillan
Useful information
Airport elevation: '
Time zone: UTC-
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: '
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
Chillan Info
Chillan, Chile is a mid-sized town with a population of about 150,000 people and located about 5 hours south of Santiago.
There is a lot of local history in Chillan. Back in 1939 there was an earthquake that destroyed most of the city. In memory of the people who died in the quake a cross was built 30 meters high, each meter representing 1000 people killed. It's a must see during your stay in Chillan. Chillan Viejo, a city right next to Chillan, has a museum of Bernardo O´Higgins, one of the great heroes of Chilean history. And not too far from here you can see the Museum of Arturo Prat the great navy hero who gave his life for his country during the Pacific war. He now has his face on the largest bill in Chile, the $10.000 peso bill.
Many people come to Chillan because of the great outdoor opportunities like skiing (season June - September), hot springs, and hiking. Take a look around in the chile-travel.com links for more information on how you can spend your time in Chillan, Chile.
SCEL - Airport Info
ICAO code: SCEL
Airport name: Arturo Merino Benitez Intl. Airport
Location: Santiago
Useful information
Airport elevation: '
Time zone: UTC-
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: '
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
Santiago Info
Santiago, capital city of Chile, on the Mapocho River, in the central part of the country. Santiago is situated at an elevation of 520 m (1,700 ft) on an alluvial plain, with the snowcapped Andes Mountains visible to the east. It is Chile's largest city and its principal commercial, manufacturing, transportation, and cultural center. Major manufactures of the metropolitan area include processed food, textiles, metal and wood products, clothing, and chemicals. Government activities and tourism are also important to the economic base. The city is served by an international airport.
Santiago is the site of the University of Chile, founded in 1738 as the Royal University of San Felipe; the Catholic University of Chile (1888); the University of Santiago de Chile (1947); and the General Bernardo O'Higgins Military School (1817). Also in Santiago are the National Archives, the Congress Building, the National Library, and the National Stadium. Among the many museums in the city are the National Historical Museum, with collections from the pre-Columbian, colonial, and independence periods; the National Museum of Fine Arts; the Contemporary Art Museum, in Forestal Park; the Art of the American Peoples Museum, with a collection of Chilean folk art; the National Museum of Natural History; the Natural History Museum of San Pedro Nolasco; and the Salvador Allende Museum of Solidarity, which features contemporary art by artists from around the world. Other points of interest are a zoological park, the 16th-century cathedral, and the Presidential Palace, built in the early 19th century.
Santiago was established in 1541 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia in an area inhabited by the Picunche people. In 1647 the community was severely damaged by an earthquake. In 1651 Santiago was made an episcopal see, and when Chile achieved independence in 1818, it became the nation's capital. The community has periodically been damaged by severe floods, and it repeatedly suffered from civil strife in the early 1970s. Population 5,493,062 (2000 estimate).