Chelín Island, Island in the Chiloé Archipelago, Los Lagos Region, Chile.
Chelín Island covers about 7.5 square miles (12 square kilometers) and reaches a maximum elevation of 98 feet (30 meters), featuring gentle slopes, coastal contours, and small forested areas that support local flora and fauna.
Records from 1734 mention Chelín as a community with a chapel serving indigenous populations, and the island's population peaked around 1907 with approximately 1,200 inhabitants before declining due to economic shifts and migration.
The island is home to the Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chelín church, built in 1888 and recognized by UNESCO as part of Chile's World Heritage for its wooden ecclesiastical architecture and cultural significance.
Access to Chelín Island relies on a daily subsidized ferry service from Quehui, passing through Chelín en route to Castro, with travelers advised to verify schedules in advance and bring essential supplies due to limited amenities.
Chelín Island had a recorded population of just 242 residents in 2017, predominantly engaged in subsistence agriculture and small-scale fishing, making it one of the quieter and less developed islands in the Chiloé Archipelago.
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