La Higuera, Chile
La Higuera is a town and commune in Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the east by the Atacama Region, and the south by the communes of Vicuña and La Serena.
La Higuera | |
|---|---|
Town and Commune | |
|
Coat of arms La Higuera Location in Chile | |
| Coordinates: 29°30′S 71°16′W | |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Coquimbo |
| Province | Elqui |
| Capital | La Higuera |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Alcalde | Sylvia Clavería Mondaca |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,158.2 km2 (1,605.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 594 m (1,949 ft) |
| Population (2012 Census) | |
| • Total | 4,285 |
| • Density | 1.0/km2 (2.7/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 1,080 |
| • Rural | 2,641 |
| Sex | |
| • Men | 2,084 |
| • Women | 1,637 |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) |
| Area code | 56 + 51 |
| Website | Municipality of La Higuera |
Punta de Choros is famous for its beaches and a colony of bottlenose dolphins, the southernmost colony of that species. Of the total commune population, 1,080 live in urban zones and 2,641 live in rural zones.
The islands of Choros and Damas are also part of the commune, which form the National Reserve of the Humboldt Penguin, administered by the Corporación Nacional Forestal. On the island of Damas, the beach La Tijera is found at the extreme south.
Las Campanas Observatory and La Silla Observatory are also found in the territory of the commune.