Parque Forestal, Santiago, Urban park in Santiago, Chile
Parque Forestal is a park in Santiago, Chile, that stretches along the banks of the Mapocho and is defined by three rows of tall trees and wide pedestrian paths. The area connects several central points of the city and is bordered by two parallel streets that allow access from both sides.
Parque Forestal occupies land reclaimed from the Mapocho River after it was channelled through the city centre in the late 19th century; the park itself was laid out in the early 20th century. Its name honours the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío, whose stay in Chile launched his literary fame, and a monument with a plaque stands at its centre. In 2002 about four thousand people gathered here for a mass nude photograph by the American Spencer Tunick.
The park is officially named after Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío, who lived in Chile and whose stay there launched his literary fame; a central monument bears a plaque honouring him. Its three rows of oriental plane trees, planted in the early 20th century, have been a walking route for generations of Santiago residents.
The park is accessible daily from early to late and works well for walks or short breaks in the city center. Shade under the trees provides relief from the sun, especially during the warmer months of the year.
The German Fountain is a donation from Chile's German community for the Centenary of Chile celebrations, not a German state gift. On 30 June 2002 about four thousand people posed nude in the park for US photographer Spencer Tunick, a milestone of nudism in Chile.
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