Canela, Chilean commune in Choapa Province, Chile
Canela is a commune in Choapa Province located between the Pacific coast and the inland mountains of northern Chile. The territory includes both coastal areas and higher elevation zones toward the eastern interior.
Canela was established as an administrative division in the late 1800s, emerging from earlier settlement patterns in the area. Mining activities shaped the region's economic development for many decades afterward.
The name Canela comes from the Quechua word 'kanannay', referring to how sunlight reflected off the gold deposits that people mined here long ago. This connection to the land's resources shaped how locals understood and named their home.
The area features both coastal settlement zones and more remote inland communities spread across the territory. Most locations are best explored with your own transport, as services concentrate in the main populated centers.
This territory marks Chile's narrowest point, stretching from the Pacific coast to the eastern border in a width of roughly 90 kilometers. This geographic quirk makes it a notable spot for those interested in Chile's unusual shape and layout.
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