Iloca is a small coastal town in Chile, located in the commune of Licantén, Curicó Province, Maule Region. It is located 120 kilometers west of Curicó.

Iloca
Town
Iloca
Iloca
Coat of arms
Location in Chile
Location in Chile
Iloca
Location in Chile
Coordinates: 34°55′S 72°11′W / 34.917°S 72.183°W / -34.917; -72.183
CountryChile
RegionMaule
ProvinceCuricó
CommuneLicantén
Population
 (2002)
 • Total345
Time zoneUTC-4 (CLT[1])
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (CLST[2])
Area code56 +

According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 345 inhabitants, although it increases considerably during the summer months[citation needed].

Iloca was critically damaged by the 2010 Chile earthquake, stemming mostly from the following tsunami that hit the nearby coast hours later. Approximately 70% of Iloca's buildings were destroyed by these disasters.[3]

The closest large settlement is the city of Constitución, Chile[citation needed].

Etymology edit

The name "Iloca" comes from the Mapuche word "ilokan", meaning the act of killing an animal to extract its meat.[4]

Notable people edit

Rayén Quitral, Opera singer and Actress

References edit

  1. ^ "Chile Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  2. ^ "Chile Summer Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  3. ^ Bustamante, Rodrigo (2010). "Chilenos claman por ayuda tras el terremoto". BBC Online (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  4. ^ Soffia, Alejandro (2002). ¿Por qué se llama como se llama? cada ciudad, pueblo y aldea de Chile (in Spanish) (4th ed.). Grijalbo. p. 184. ISBN 956-258-103-9.