The Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region (, , '), often shortened to Aysén Region or Aisén, is one of Chile's 16 regions. It is the third-largest region in area and the least populous, with a population of 102,317 as of 2017. The capital of the region is Coyhaique, the region's former namesake. The region's current namesake is the former President of Chile, General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.

The landscape is marked by several glaciations that formed many lakes, channels and fjords. The region contains icefields including the Northern Patagonian Ice Field and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world's third largest after those in Antarctica and Greenland. The northern half of the region feature a north-south string of volcanoes. While the western part of the region is densely vegetated and mountainous, the eastern reaches contain open grasslands and much flat and rolling terrain.

Aysén Region was the last major area to be effectively incorporated into the Republic of Chile, with the first permanent settlements emerging in the second half of the 19th century and the inland part being settled at the turn of the century. Until the construction of Route 7 (the Carretera Austral, or Southern Highway) in the 1980s, the only overland routes from north to south through the region were extremely primitive tracks.

Etymology

thumb|The fjords and glaciers of the region are among the possible origins of the name Aysén/Aisén

There is no certainty about the origin of the name Aysén, which has been used to designate the region since at least the 18th century, although several theories exist. One proposes that it comes from a Huilliche word achén or aichirrn, meaning “twisted” or “crumbled,” a typical characteristic of the fjords in the area. Another suggests it derives from a word of Chono origin meaning “that which goes further inland,” referring to the Aysén Fjord as seen from the coast of the Moraleda Channel.

Another possible origin, proposed by Kémel Sade, is a compound word from the Gününa Küne or Aonikenk language that could be translated as “rocks where there is water,” alluding to the numerous water sources compared to the more eastern territory inhabited by these tribes.

One of the most controversial proposals is that the region takes its name from the English words “ice end”. This idea is attributed to the captain of HMS Beagle, Robert FitzRoy, who during his expedition along the region’s coast together with Charles Darwin around 1835 may have marked the area on his maps with these words. However, the name Aysen already appears on maps by the Spanish cartographer José de Moraleda, produced in the early 1790s.

During the period of colonization of the territory, the grave pronunciation with a definite article was common: el Aisen.

Although contemporary Spanish orthography prefers the spelling “Aisén” with i, the name of the region is often written with y. In both cases, the words are pronounced with the same semivowel sound for y/i, since the use of y corresponds to an archaic feature of Spanish orthography that is still preserved in the toponymy of some Spanish localities. The use of both spellings is widespread, although “Aysén” is locally preferred.

Both the Military Geographic Institute (IGM), responsible for regulating Chilean toponymy, and the National Statistics Institute used the word Aisén until the beginning of the 21st century; however, in 2010 the IGM decided to use the name Aysén, as well as “Coyhaique” instead of “Coihaique” for the regional capital, which also presents this dual spelling.

Regarding the designation “General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo,” Decree Law No. 712 of 1974 gave the region this name due to “the need to pay tribute to the memory of General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo for his outstanding administration and constant struggle to uplift our Nation.” (La necesidad de rendir homenaje a la memoria del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo por su destacada administración y constante lucha por levantar nuestra Nación).

Demography

Region XI, Aysen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, is the least populated of the country. According to the 2024 census there were only 100,745 inhabitants in an area of 106,990.9 km². The population density is 0.92 inhabitants per km². Between 2000 and 2005, the average annual growth rate was estimated at 1.35 per 100 inhabitants.

The largest cities according to the 2024 census are Coyhaique (population 57,823), Puerto Aysen (23,170), Puerto Cisnes (5,137), Chile Chico (4,905), Cochrane (3,458), Río Ibáñez (2,723) and Guaitecas (1,598).

Climate

350px|thumb|Fall foliage near Coyhaique in April, when autumn is nearing its peak.

350px|thumb|Lago General Carrera

thumb|Marble Cathedral and Marble Chapel, on General Carrera Lake, Aysén Region

Aysén Region climate's is classified as a cool oceanic climate with low temperatures, abundant precipitation and strong winds. The relief found throughout the region results in different types of climate zones in the western and eastern parts. Coastal areas to the west have a cool temperate climate. In 1985 the discovery of merluza fishing grounds in Moraleda Channel sparkled a fishing boom.

Exploitation of forests and the production of yard timber, plywood, and panels for furniture is mostly geared to export markets. Animal husbandry focuses on beef cattle, sheep, and sheep's wool, part of which is exported.

The region contains about 15,240 ha of Sphagnum bogs, and since an exploitation boom in the 2010s extraction of Sphagnum in Chile is regulated by law since 2018. Due to shortcomings of the 2018 law a 2024 law establish that harvesting of Sphagnum can only be done with land-management plans approved by Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero.

The commune that concentrates most of the region's Sphagnum bogs —28.5%— is O'Higgins. There are a total of 10 municipalities in Aysén Region.

History

Early inhabitants

The earliest historically known inhabitants of the fjords and channels of Aysén Region are the Chono and Kawésqar. These two groups shared a life style as canoe-faring hunther-gatherers. They also shared physical traits such as being of low stature, long-headed (Dolichocephalic) and having a "low face". Despite similarities their languages were completely different. The Chono moved around in the area from Chiloé Archipelago to 50° S and the Kawésqar from 46° S to the Strait of Magellan. Thus both groups overlapped in Gulf of Penas, Guayaneco Archipelago and other islands.

Guaitecas Archipelago made up the southern limit of Pre-Hispanic agriculture as noted by the mention of the cultivation of potatoes by a Spanish expedition in 1557.

Colonial era

Pedro de Valdivia sought originally to conquer all of southern South America to the Straits of Magellan (53° S). He did however only reach Reloncaví Sound (41°45' S). Later in 1567 Chiloé Archipelago (42°30' S) was conquered, from there on southern expansion of the Spanish Empire halted. The Spanish are thought to have lacked incentives for further conquests south. The indigenous populations were scarce and had ways of life that differed from the sedentary agricultural life the Spanish were accostumed to. The harsh climate in the fjords and channels of Patagonia may also have deterred further expansion.

During colonial times, the fjords and channels of Patagonia were first explored by the Spaniards. There were a number of motivations for their explorations, including a desire to Christianize indigenous peoples, to prevent intrusions of foreign powers into territory claimed by Spain, to increase geographic knowledge of the zone, and finally, to search for a mythical city called City of the Caesars. False rumours of European settlements near the Straits of Magellan led the Spanish to organize the Antonio de Vea expedition of 1675–1676 which was the largest expedition to the date. However, the islands were often visited and traversed in the 19th century by fishermen, lumberjacks, and hunters from Chiloé. The exploitation of Pilgerodendron uviferum () in the archipelagoe and fjords of Aysén Region contributed to link early economy of the region to Chiloé Archipelago further north. The Gaucho is an important symbol of the region shaping the cuisine, dance, and music of Aysén rather than the Huaso of Central Chile. The main difference between the Guacho and Huaso is the former is involved in cattle and sheep herding, while the latter tends to be more oriented around farming. The settler heritage of the region arising from Argentina and Chiloé have also led to a unique dialect of Spanish distinct from Central Chile, especially in the areas along the border with Argentina. It is the blend of these cultures and geographic isolation that make Aysén a region distinct from the national identity of Chile which to a large degree developed around the center of the country.

Cuisine

See also

  • Aisén (disambiguation)

References

;Bibliography

  • —Goreaysen.cl: Official Aysén Region website