Quinchao

Quinchao is a Chilean commune located in Chiloé Province, Los Lagos Region. The seat of government lies in the town of Achao on the island. The commune of Quinchao includes most of the Quinchao Island (sharing its territory with the commune of Curaco de Vélez), and it also incorporates nine nearby islands: Alao, Apia, Chaulinec and Cahuache (or Caguach), Lin-Lin, Llingua, Meulín, Quenac and Teuquelín. These islands all lie within the Gulf of Corcovado east of Chile's second largest island, Chiloé, which separates the Chiloé Archipelago from mainland Chile. The commune spans a total land area of 160.7 km (62 sq mi). According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Quinchao has 8,976 inhabitants (4,417 men and 4,559 women). Of these, 3,452 (38.5%) lived in urban areas and 5,524 (61.5%) in rural areas. The population fell by 1.2% (112 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses. The municipal building is the town of Achao. As a commune, Quinchao is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years.