Talca

Infobox City
official_name = Talca
native_name =
nickname =
motto =
language = Spanish

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imagesize = 200px
image_caption =The downtown as seen from Cerro La Virgen.


image_

image_shield =

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mapsize = 200px
map_caption = Location of Talca commune in Maule region
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
pushpin_map_caption =Location in Chile
pushpin_mapsize = 80
subdivision_type = Region
subdivision_name = Maule Region
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Talca Province
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Patricio Herrera Blanco
established_title = Foundation
established_date = February 17, 1742
unit_pref = Metric
area_as_of = 2002
area_magnitude =
area_footnotes =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_total_km2 = 232
population_as_of = 2002
population_note =
settlement_type = Commune
population_total = 201.797
population_footnotes =
population_metro = 193.755
population_urban =
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone = Chile Time (CLT) [cite web |url=http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-time.htm |accessdate=2007-05-05 |title=Chile Time |publisher=World Time Zones .org]
utc_offset = -4
timezone_DST = Chile Summer Time (CLST) [cite web |url=http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-summer-time.htm |accessdate=2007-05-05 |title=Chile Summer Time |publisher=World Time Zones .org]
utc_offset_DST = -3
latd=35 |latm=26 |lats=0 |latNS=S
longd=71 |longm=40 |longs=0 |longEW=W
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
website = [http://www.talca.cl/ www.talca.cl]
footnotes =

Talca (2002 Census pop. 193,755) is a city and commune in Chile, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region (7th Region of Chile).

The city was founded as San Agustín de Talca in 1742 by José Antonio Manso de Velasco.cite web |url=http://www.utalca.cl/english/htm/location/region.htm |title=Maule Region |accessdate=2008-07-30 |work= |publisher=Universidad de Talca |date= ] It was partially destroyed by earthquakes in 1742 and 1928, being rebuilt both times. The city played a role in Chile's independence; it was the home of Mgr. José Ignacio Cienfuegos, and was the site Bernardo O'Higgins' proclamation of Chilean independence in 1818. The city is an important economic center, with agricultural (wheat) and manufacturing activities, as well as wine production. It is also the location of the Universidad de Talca and the Catholic University of Maule, among others. The Catholic Church of Talca has held a prominent role in the history of Chile.

The inhabitants of Talca have a saying, "Talca, Paris & London", born from a hat shop which had placed a ribbon stating that it had branches in Paris and London. The shop was owned by a French immigrant named Jean-Pierre Lagarde.

Geography and climate

Talca is located 250 km south of Santiago, south of the confluence of the rivers Lircay and Claro, in the Central Valley. The city is bisected by the Pan-American Highway.

Climate

Talca lies within the Continental Mediterranean climate zone, with a dry season of four months. Average annual rainfall is 749 mm and the annual temperature averages 13 °C. Infobox Weather
metric_first= Yes
single_line= Yes
location =Talca
Jan_Hi_°C =29
Feb_Hi_°C =28
Mar_Hi_°C =25
Apr_Hi_°C =19
May_Hi_°C =15
Jun_Hi_°C =13
Jul_Hi_°C =11
Aug_Hi_°C =12
Sep_Hi_°C =14
Oct_Hi_°C =18
Nov_Hi_°C =20
Dec_Hi_°C =28
Year_Hi_°C =19

Jan_Lo_°C =14
Feb_Lo_°C =14
Mar_Lo_°C =12
Apr_Lo_°C =8
May_Lo_°C =5
Jun_Lo_°C =3
Jul_Lo_°C =2
Aug_Lo_°C =3
Sep_Lo_°C =6
Oct_Lo_°C =8
Nov_Lo_°C =12
Dec_Lo_°C =14
Year_Lo_°C =8

Jan_Precip_mm =2
Feb_Precip_mm =2
Mar_Precip_mm =17
Apr_Precip_mm =64
May_Precip_mm =105
Jun_Precip_mm =130
Jul_Precip_mm =182
Aug_Precip_mm =128
Sep_Precip_mm =70
Oct_Precip_mm =34
Nov_Precip_mm =12
Dec_Precip_mm =3
Year_Precip_mm =749
source = Weatherbasecite news|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=098261&refer=&units=metric|publisher =WeatherBase.com|title=talca, chile|date=8 January 2008]
accessdate = 19 February 2008

ee also

*Maule River
*Descabezado Grande
*Radal Siete Tazas National Reserve
*Altos de Lircay National Reserve

References

External links

* [http://www.talcaurbano.cl Talca's Gate]
* [http://www.elamaule.cl El aMaule]
* [http://www.diariolaprensa.cl La Prensa]
* [http://www.diarioelcentro.cl/ El Centro]
* [http://www.delmaule.cl/ WWW.DELMAULE.CL]