VALPARAISO, a city and seaport of Chile, capital of the province of Aconcagua, on a broad open bay of the Pacific in lat. 33° o' 2" S., long. 71° 41' 15" W., about Tom. N.W. of Santiago. Pop. (1902), 142,282; (1930 census) 196,025. The almost semicir cular Bay of Valparaiso is slightly over 3m. across from Punta An geles to Punta Gruesa, and the city stands on the south side, on the slopes of a spur of barren hills projecting into the Pa cific and forming a rocky peninsula terminating in Punta Angeles. This point affords good shelter from southerly and westerly storms, but the bay is open to those from the north. The extreme points of the bay are strongly fortified. The city occupies a nar row strip of beach around the head of the bay, and extends up the steep slopes and valleys of the enclosing hills, which have an altitude of r,000 to 1,40oft. The city's civic improvements are striking and beautiful. The Chilean naval academy buildings and fine residences are located on heights overlooking the bay. Im proved roads connect the upper and lower city. There are nu merous inclined passenger elevators. The suburban resort, Villa del Mar, is noted for its buildings, amusements, and society.
Valparaiso is pre-eminently commercial. Its trade, which is the largest and most important on the Pacific coast of South America, makes it a terminal and port of call for several regular lines of steamers, affording frequent communication with Europe and the United States. The transcontinental railway line between Valparaiso and Buenos Aires (the Andean tunnel was opened in April 1910) adds to the traffic of the port, through the tranship ment of passengers and freight to escape the long and dangerous voyage by way of the Straits of Magellan. A railway of 117m. to Santiago, electrified in 1924-25, relieves port congestion. Har bour improvements. begun in 1912, represent an outlay of several million pounds. The great depth of the water retards progress, but two breakwaters, in process of construction, from opposite shores of the bay, have attained sufficient length to protect ship ping. Eventually 220 ac. of water space will offer protection. In
1923 vessels began to dock at modern piers; a mile of semi-circu lar stone sea-wall, scores of new warehouses and modern cargo handling machinery serve annual imports of 700,00o and exports of 400,00o tons.
Two cable lines give telegraphic communication with Europe and the United States—a west coast line running to Panama, and a land line across the Andes to Buenos Aires in connection with the cable to Europe from that port. There are a wireless telegraph station in regular communication with the islands of Juan Fer nandez, State telegraph lines communicating with all parts of the republic, arid an efficient telephone service. From Valparaiso good highways are gradually extending inland and to the capital.
Valparaiso was founded in 1536 by Juan de Saavedra, who named it after his birthplace near Cuenca, Spain. The port and town were of but little note during the colonial period, for free commercial intercourse with the colony was forbidden. In 1819, near the end of the war with Spain, its population barely reached 5,000. In 1578 it was captured by Sir Francis Drake, and in 1596 by Sir John Hawkins. In 160o it was sacked by the Dutch under Van Noort. On March 31, 1866, it was bombarded by a Spanish fleet under the command of Admiral Nunez, when a large part of the town was laid in ruins, and on Aug. 28, 1891, after the victory of the congressional troops over Balmaceda's forces in the vicin ity, it was partially sacked by the Chileans themselves. Val paraiso suffered much from the earthquakes of 1731, 1822, 1839, 1873 and 1908. That of 1908 caused the destruction of a large part of the city. Its modernization may be said to date from the earthquakes of 1906-07. From ashes and debris streets were widened and paved, better business structures arose and modern sewerage was provided.