ValparaisoValparaiso (väl-pā-rī′sō), the most important commercial town of Chile (q. v.) and chief port on the west coast of South America, is situated on Valparaiso Bay, on which it has a frontage of four and one half miles. It is 62 miles west from Santiago, with which it is connected by rail. It is also connected with the Transandine Railway, which will give connection with Buenos Ayres, Argentine Republic. Steamship lines connect the city directly with Europe and with Panama. Except for a narrow, level strip along the bay, the site consists of a series of hills from 300 to 1,000 feet in height. The city has handsome government buildings, fine hotel, office and business buildings, extensive wharves and warehouses, 12 parks, ten newspapers, professional and high schools, primary schools and extensive manufacturing establishments of various kinds. Valparaiso has been visited by destructive earthquakes at various times. The latest occurred in August, 1906, when the city was devastated, involving an appalling loss of life and a property loss estimated at $200,000,000. Population 175,000.
