Santiago Metropolitan Region

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The region's European-influenced history began in 1542, a few days after Santiago was founded, when the Santiago cabildo was built to supervise the entire territory. Later, with the creation of the cities of La Serena and Concepción and their respective cabildos, its territorial reach was reduced. On 30 August 1826, eight provinces were created, with the Santiago Province being one of them, but it was not until 1980 that the Metropolitan Region was created.

Reader's Guide

The Santiago Metropolitan Region is Chile's administrative, industrial, commercial, financial, and cultural center, producing 41.5% of Chile's gross domestic product, according to central bank estimates. Its principal industries include manufacturing, services, retail, and financial services. The region's geography is defined by the Intermediate Depression valley between the Chilean Coast Range and the Andes Mountains, with the Maipo River as its dominant drainage basin. Notable landmarks include Cerro San Cristóbal at 880 m above sea level, the Plaza de Armas (the central square hosting the city's cathedral and city hall), and the presidential palace La Moneda. The region also hosts Chile's main international airport, Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, and many of the country's oldest wineries built in the 19th century. Its climate is temperate Mediterranean cold and continental, with winter frosts and dry, hot summers. The region is divided into six provinces and 52 communes, governed since 2021 by an elected governor. The current governor is Claudio Orrego Larraín (Independent).

Did You Know?

• The Santiago Metropolitan Region is Chile's only landlocked administrative region.
• The region's HDI of 0.908 makes it the most developed subdivision in all of South America.
• The Metropolitan Region was not created until 1980, though the Santiago Province was established on 30 August 1826.
• Cerro San Cristóbal dominates the Santiago cityscape at a height of 880 m above sea level.
• The region produces 41.5% of Chile's gross domestic product, according to central bank estimates.