Los Ríos

Formed around the waterways of the Valdivia River basin, Los Ríos developed into one of southern Chile’s most water-defined regions. Its capital, Valdivia, was founded in 1552 and remains closely tied to the river, which reaches the Pacific through a network of estuaries. North of the city, the Río Cruces Nature Sanctuary protects extensive wetlands known for black-necked swans. Elsewhere, the region extends from temperate rainforests and Andean lakes to the coast, with Panguipulli an important lakeside centre. Nineteenth-century German settlement helped shape Valdivia’s brewing and culinary traditions. Trace Los Ríos within southern Chile by browsing webcams from nearby areas.

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