Chacao Channel

The Chacao Channel is a channel located in the southern region of Chile that separates the southwest coast of the American continent from the northern coast of the Grande Island of Chiloé, linking the Coronados Gulf with the Gulf of Ancud. It measures 14 nmi long in the middle NW-SE direction between Chocoi and Coronel points.

Administratively it belongs to the Los Lagos Region: the north side is divided between the communes of Maullín and Calbuco (province of Llanquihue) and the south side corresponds to the commune of Ancud (province of Chiloé). Road communication between both shores is carried out through a ferry service that connects the towns of Pargua on the mainland and Chacao on the Big Island.

The Spanish sailor Francisco de Ulloa, in 1553, was the first European to recognize this channel.

Tour

Channel map

It runs between the southwest coast of the province of Llanquihue and the north coast of the Isla Grande de Chiloé, connecting the Coronados Gulf with the NW sector of the Gulf of Ancud. It measures 14 nmi long in a general NW-SE direction between Chocoi and Coronel points.

Its western entrance is between Punta Chocoi on the north side and Punta Guapacho on the south. Its eastern entrance is between Coronel Point on the north side and Tres Cruces Point on the south side. Its width varies between just over 1 nmi in the Remolinos rock area to 2½ nmi between Lenqui and Pugueñún points.

Due to its depth, it can be navigated by ships of great size and draft. Pilotage is mandatory for all foreign ships. In the western sector of the canal are the lower Campana, formed by shell and thick sand that is discovered at low tide, the lower Colo-Colo with only 2.7 meters of water at low tide marked by an automatic lighthouse, and the lower Spain of sand, stone and pebble in which 7 meters of water are probed at low syzygian tide. Its name was given by the Spanish battleship that hit bottom in it in 1920.

On the south side of the recommended navigation track and in the western sector of the channel there are the following dangers: under Young with 6 meters of water above it, Topaz rock, 4 meters above it, Amazon rocks, with 5 meters of water, under Knoll and the Guillermo and Müller rocks, under Zenteno with 10 meters of water above, English bank with depths of 5 and 8 meters of water.

Geology and orography

Formed after the retreat of the ice in the last glaciation (Llanquihue glaciation) and subsequent eruption of the Pacific Ocean, the appearance of the northern shore differs profoundly from the southern shore. The lands of the northern or continental coast are high and steep. Those of the Big Island of Chiloé are of moderate height, height that rises from east to west. Its appearance varies between shady forest and cultivated land. Some villages, hamlets and homes can be seen.

The channel is deep and ships of great size and draft can navigate it. In the months of February, March and April there are usually dense fog banks. Within the channel there are three islands; From west to east they are Doña Sebastiana, Cochinos and Lacao.

Climatology

Between the months of April and December, heavy rains and winds prevail that contrast with the geographical area in which it is located, however, between January and March, you can enjoy a more temperate climate, thanks to the season. that predominates in this period (summer). In the vicinity of the Picuta de Carelmapu there are sometimes dense banks of fog. These are more frequent in the months of February, March and April.

Oceanography

Tides and currents are the sailor's greatest concern due to their extreme intensity. During the syzygies they present the appearance of a rushing river with violent eddies and rushes. They vary between 3 and 9 knots on the Remolinos reef.

Flora and fauna

Among the most important trees are the oak, the ulmo, the laurel, the ciruelillo and the hazelnut; the latter two appropriate for the construction of fine furniture. Larch, suitable for building construction and highly appreciated for its moisture resistance property. The mañío, the tepú, the tique, the pelú and the luma, the latter notable for its hardness.

In inhabited areas there are fruit species introduced from Europe, such as: the apple tree, the cherry tree, the pear tree, the plum tree and the currant tree, which has spread significantly.

As for introduced cereals and vegetables, some wheat, rye, turnip, carrot and beet are grown. Finally, there is the potato, native to these canals and whose cultivation is widespread as it constitutes the basis of the diet of the Chilote people.

The wild fauna has few representatives among mammals: the pudú, the fox and various mice-like rodents. Among the domestic animals, lambs, goats and pigs stand out. The poultry is varied: turkey, goose and duck.

Fish and shellfish are abundant. Among the first we will mention: the croaker, the sea bass, the silverside, the conger, the sawfish and the sole.

The seafood is very varied and of outstanding quality: oyster, choros, cholgas, locos, picorocos, urchins, machas, tacas, limpets, piures, navajuelas, quilmahues and snails.

History

The region is believed to have been inhabited for about 6,000 years by indigenous people who arrived by land from central Chile and who traveled to the Big Island of Chiloé by boat. There are others who postulate that the arrival occurred from the south through the Ofqui isthmus.

The oldest human remains are dated at 5000-6000 years and were found under a house in Puente Quilo in the commune of Ancud. These first indigenous people, who populated as far as the Gulf of Penas, are known as Chonos, a people extinguished by the white man at the end of the 18th century.

Expeditions and hydrographic works

Description north coast

Chocoi Point

Map of the tip

Its coordinates according to the Route are: L:41°45'00" S. G:73°46'00" W. It constitutes the NW point of the western entrance of the canal. Of rocky conformation, it is crossed by a tunnel visible from the sea that has been opened by the waves.

Near it is the small Chocoi islet and about 3 cables to the SSE the Campana Grande and Campana Chica islets.

Doña Sebastiana Island

Map of the island

Located 1½ nmi W of Chocoi Point. With irregular relief, it has two summits separated by a ravine at its NW and SE ends. The NW summit is 48 meters high and is the highest on the island. Its coasts are dirty and beaten by the waves of the ocean. On its eastern coast there is a sandy beach where you can disembark in good weather. On the SW coast there is another small cove that can be approached on very rare occasions.

At the SE and SW tips there are two automatic headlights installed. At 132° and 7 cables from the SW point lighthouse, the Liberian ship Andros Coral is sunken, constituting a danger to navigation. From the eastern end of the island, the lower Campana extends to the SE for almost half a mile, occupying a third of the width of the Chocoi Pass.

The island was inhabited by several families during the XX century, but it was gradually depopulated until the decade Since 1990, only one inhabitant remained, who was murdered in 2012.

Chocoi Pass

It runs between Chocoi Point and the eastern side of Doña Sebastiana Island. It is 1½ nmi wide and 12 to 29 meters deep between Chocoi Point and lower Campana.

The tidal currents are quite intense, between 4 to 6 knots. Recommended only for small vessels but with sufficient machine power.

Punta Picuta of Carelmapu

Located 2½ nmi ESE of Chocoi Point. It is a remarkable steep rock 60 meters high. Half a mile west of this point is another point called Falsa Picuta.

Under Spain

Bass map

Located one block from the village of Carelmapu. It is a bank of sand, stone and pebbles in which 7 meters of water are probed at low tide. The emptying current pulls towards the SW and the increasing current pulls towards the low. Its name is due to the fact that in 1920 the Spanish battleship España touched down on it.

Rada Carelmapu

Located between the Picuta point of Carelmapu and the Lenqui point. It has 2 nmi of mouth and ½ nmi of bag. At its mouth there is a large sand and mud bank called Tacas Bank that limits navigation. In the NW corner of the roadstead is the village of Carelmapu of about 50 houses.

The importance of the roadstead is to be a ferry station to cross the canal to Ancud and vice versa.

Punta Lenqui

Map of the tip

Located 2 nmi east of the Picuta point of Carelmapu. It is 20 meters high. To the east of the point the Lenqui stream flows. An automatic headlight stands in it.

Round Tip

Its coordinates according to the Route are: L:41°45'42" S. G:73°37'30" W. Located 2 nmi east of Punta Lenqui. It is steep and the most prominent in that sector.

Astillero Point

Located 1¼ nmi ESE of Punta Redonda. Steep and covered with vegetation. To the west it empties a stream accessible to boats and boats.

Punta Teresita

Located 2 nmi ESE of Punta Astillero. Steep There are underwater electrical cables so fishing and anchoring in the area are prohibited. To the west of the point there is an electric lighthouse, Endesa lighthouse.

Swirl Rocks

Located 6 cables north of Remolinos point. It is a reef ⅓ nmi long. They are not as dangerous as one might think due to their location and intensity of the current, between 9 and 10 knots in the flood.

Punta Barranco

Located 2 nmi east of Punta Teresita. It is a very characteristic cliff ravine. The Punta Barranco lighthouse is installed on its slope.

Punta Coronel

Map of the tip

Located 1½ nmi ESE of Punta Barranco. It has a height of 25 meters, without vegetation and notable for being a yellowish ravine. It marks the eastern end of the Chacao channel on its northern bank.

Description south coast

Punta Guapacho

Map of the tip

Located in the NE sector of the Lacui peninsula. It marks the western limit of the southern coast of the Chacao channel. With Chocoi Point they form the western entrance of the channel, this mouth measures 6 nmi wide.

Lacui Peninsula

Map of the peninsula

Located at the NW end of the north coast of the island of Chiloé. It measures 9 nmi long between the Guabún and Ahui points and 3 nmi long in the N-S direction.

Its north and west coasts are open to the Pacific Ocean, the east coast is part of the Ancud Bay and on its south coast is the Gulf of Quetalmahue, which measures 5 nmi long.

On the north coast, Guapacho Bay is formed, which ends to the east at the point of the same name. On its east side are Punta Corona, Puerto Inglés and Puntas Ahui and Arenas.

Ancud Bay

Map of the bay

Located on the NW coast of the island of Chiloé, on the southern bank of the Chacao channel. It has a 2 nmi mouth between the Ahui point of the Lacuy peninsula and the San Antonio point north of the city of Ancud.

At the bottom of its bag, on the west side, the Gulf of Quetalmahue opens.

Punta Pugueñún

Map of the tip

Its coordinates according to the Route are: L:41°48'00" S. G:73°40'00" W. It is low and has yellow sand with some dunes. Towards the west of the point are the Pugueñún rocks and to the east is the small spring of the same name. Useful for small ships. Around the Pugueñún rocks there are some benches and rocks and the Capilla and Doce de Octubre shallows.

Espolón Point

Map of the tip

Located 2 nmi ESE of Pugueñún point. It is a long sandy beach separated from Lacao Island by the Caulín channel.

Lacao Island

Map of the island

Located 3 cables NE of Espolón point. It measures 1 nmi long in the N-S direction by 4 cables wide. From its northern end, which is a 15-meter-high ravine, a shoal 17 cables long extends to the WNW and ENE.

Caulín Canal

Channel map

It flows between the east and south coasts of Lacao Island and the north coast of Chiloé Island. At high tide it looks like a wide channel but in reality it is of reduced proportions. It is suitable only for boats.

Punta Quetrelquén

Map of the tip

Its coordinates according to the Route are: L:41°48'00" S. G:73°36'00" W. Located 12 cables ENE of the northern end of Lacao Island. Steep, 22 meters high. To the east of the point there is a good sandy beach for boats to beach.

Puerto Elvira

Port map

Located 1 nmi east of Punta Quetrelquén on the north coast of the island of Chiloé. It is small in size and does not provide services to the navigator because an underwater electrical cable terminal is located there. Fishing and use as an anchorage are prohibited.

Punta San Gallán

Map of the tip

Its coordinates according to the Route are: L:41°48'00" S. G:73°33'00" W. Located 2¼ nmi east of Punta Quetrelquén. Is very remarkable. It is 45 meters high and has several trees at the top. It is very steep and has a block of very visible light-colored rocks.

Whirl Point

Map of the tip

Located on the north coast of the island of Chiloé 7 cables SE of Punta San Gallán. It is clean and boats can approach it. Numerous eddies form in its vicinity.

Punta Soledad

Map of the tip

Located 1 nmi SSE of Punta Remolinos. It shoots drowned rocks at close range. It constitutes the northwest tip of Chacao Bay.

Chacao Bay

Map of the bay

Located 11 cables SE of Punta Soledad. It has 10 mouth cables and 3 sac cables. At the bottom of the bay is the town of Chacao. An automatic lighthouse stands on the town's dock.

Punta Tres Cruces

Map of the tip

Located 2 nmi ESE of Punta Soledad on the north coast of Chiloé Island. It is of moderate height and wooded. An automatic headlight stands on it. It is the eastern limit of the Chacao channel on its southern bank.

Chacao Bridge

There is a project to construct a bridge that will connect the Big Island of Chiloé with the mainland. The work, originally conceived in the 1960s, has been postponed several times since its announcement in the mid-90s.

After being canceled in 2006 by the government of Michelle Bachelet, the project was reactivated by the government of Sebastián Piñera in 2012 and awarded to an international consortium in 2013. Multiple delays in the execution of the works have postponed the delivery of the bridge —originally estimated for 2020—, so it would only be ready in 2025.

Tidal energy

According to studies carried out by different environmental consulting firms and universities, both national and foreign, the potential of the canal for the generation of electricity through the use of tidal and wave energy (waves) has been estimated. According to a study prepared on behalf of the Government of Chile and the Inter-American Development Bank to the consulting firm Garrad Hassan, places the Chacao channel among the places with the greatest potential in the country to obtain tidal and wave energy, thus contributing to the exploitation of energy. renewables in Chile.

Bibliography used

• Instituto Hidrográfico de la Armada de Chile (1974). Atlas Hidrográfico de Chile. Valparaíso - Chile - Instituto Hidrográfico de la Armada. First edition.
• Instituto Hidrográfico (1981). Defeat of the Costa de Chile Volume II. Valparaíso - Chile - Instituto Hidrográfico de la Armada. 5th edition.
• Los Lagos, Region (2018). Government of Chile - Los Lagos Region. Retrieved April 11, 2018.