# Matanzas, Chile

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**Matanzas** is a coastal village famous for its beach, located in the [commune](/source/Communes_of_Chile) of [Navidad](/source/Navidad,_Chile) in the [O'Higgins Region](/source/O'Higgins_Region) of [Chile](/source/Chile).

## Location

Matanzas is located in the north west of [Cardenal Caro Province](/source/Cardenal_Caro_Province), [O'Higgins Region](/source/O'Higgins_Region), and forms part of the [commune](/source/Communes_of_Chile) of [Navidad, Chile](/source/Navidad,_Chile). Is located 160 kilometres south of [Santiago](/source/Santiago) and 58 kilometres north of [Pichilemu](/source/Pichilemu).

## History

Matanzas was a famous harbour during the time of the colonization of [Chile](/source/Chile), and was the place where part of the Spanish army responsible for the occupation of Chile’s [Zona Central](/source/Zona_Central,_Chile) disembarked. The place was also frequented by [pirates](/source/Pirate). The name "Matanzas" (Spanish for “slaughter” or “killing”) comes from the [sea lion](/source/Sea_lion) hunting and processing industry, which were used to provide oil and other goods.

A local story tells of a visit from [Sir Francis Drake](/source/Francis_Drake), who disembarked and was well received in Matanzas. Another tells of a sunken Spanish galleon out off the coast.

## Matanzas as a tourist destination

The beach at Matanzas[1] is known for its fine grey sand and year-round windy weather, making it an ideal place to practice [surfing](/source/Surfing), boogyboarding, [stand up paddling](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_Up_Paddling), [windsurfing](/source/Windsurfing) [and kitesurfing](/source/Kitesurfing).[2] Matanzas is also known for its rich fauna. The islets of Lobos and Pajaros provide a nesting ground for several bird species and the English scientist [Charles Darwin](/source/Charles_Darwin) discovered 31 species around Matanzas in his 1846 analysis of the [Navidad Formation](/source/Navidad_Formation). The area includes many species of [molluscs](/source/Mollusc) that were last reviewed extensively by Philippi (1887).[3]

There are basic services in Matanzas such as a school, hotels, cabins for rent and camp sites. Local industry is dominated by the farming of agriculture and livestock. Matanzas is growing as a tourist destination. With the expansion of the "Surazo" Hotel & Restaurant, many wealthy Chileans come here on the weekend.

## External links

- [Letter 932 — Darwin to Sowerby, 1 Dec 1845](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927070011/http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/darwinletters/calendar/entry-932.html) Darwin Correspondence Project

## See also

- [Outline of Chile](/source/Outline_of_Chile)
- [List of cities in Chile](/source/List_of_cities_in_Chile)
- [Cardenal Caro Province](/source/Cardenal_Caro_Province)
- [O'Higgins Region](/source/O'Higgins_Region)
- [Navidad, Chile](/source/Navidad,_Chile)

## References

1. [Chile’s Sernatur promotes 10 new destinations for travelers](http://www.thisischile.cl/8722/2/chiles-sernatur-promotes-10-new-destinations-for-travelers/News.aspx) www.thisischile.cl June 07, 2013 retrieved August 11, 2013

1. [Robby Swift Adventure Camp - Matanzas](http://www.oceansource.net/chile/robby_swift_clinic.asp) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131020100209/http://www.oceansource.net/chile/robby_swift_clinic.asp) 2013-10-20 at the Wayback Machine www.oceansource.net Robby Swift, Retrieved June 17, 2013

1. Sven N. Nielsen *Cenozoic strombidae, aporrhaidae, and struthiolariidae (gastropoda: stromboidea) from Chile: their significance to the interpretation of southeast pacific biogeography and climate*. Journal of Paleontology, Volume 79, Issue 6 (November 2005), Article: pp. 1120–1130. Letter 932 — Darwin, C. R. to Sowerby, G. B., elder, [1 Dec 1845]

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Matanzas, Chile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matanzas%2C_Chile) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matanzas%2C_Chile?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.