Caleta El Membrillo
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Caleta El membrillo is a traditional touristic fishing cove, fishing terminal and boat anchorage located southwest of the city of Valparaiso, at the foot of Parque Alejo Barrios and surrounded by Avenida Altamirano.
History
editDuring the period of the Colony[1] in Chile, Caleta El Membrillo rise as a place of fishing activity in the region. It was first used by the natives of the coast, Changos or Uros, who moved from the Loa River (Spanish: Río Loa) to the Aconcagua River (Spanish: Río Aconcagua. The Changos, whose name would be derived from the Quechua word, “small”; were nomadic fishermen communities focus on fishing and hunting sea lions. The generic name of this place comes from the planting of quinces that existed in the foothills of the nearby mountains and besides being a fishing site; it was also a place for recreation. Once Avenida Altamirano was inaugurated in 1930, the immediate coastal access to the fishing cove was filled of greasy spoons, small inns and recreational villas, which over the years have given rise to more established taverns and restaurants, considered today as places of tourist interest due to the variety of regional dishes including marine products offered to the visitors. Nowadays, the transportation and parking for fishing boats, some of the facilities of the University of Valparaiso[2] and the Catholic University of Valparaiso[3], a large variety of seabirds such as seagulls, pelicans, albatrosses, petrels and cormorants can be seen in the surrounding area.
Celebrations
editEach year by 29 June, the feast of Saint Peter[4] is celebrated. This celebration implies the veneration of the patron saint of the fisherman, through a procession of decked boats decorated with flowers and garlands that navigate between Caleta El Membrillo and Portales, preceded by the image of the sacred protector. Then, on September 17 the fisherman’s campfire[5] is held where all the visitors can enjoy the fried hake, and also the artistic shows which steps up to the national holiday that took place in Parque Alejo Barrio with fondas and ramadas On February a similar activity called Tourist’s campfire is celebrated.
Playa Las Torpederas
editTorpederas is a beach in Valparaíso, Chile, located at the bottom of Playa Ancha's hill and at the end of Avenida Altamirano[6].
History
editThe beach gets its name from two of the active-duty torpedo boats anchored there in the year 1887 and used to be hidden in the bay of Valparaiso until 1895. This sandstone border and the hollow that flew into the sea were known as a fishermen place, undoubtedly, the name was given by the activity performed in this site, according to the existing maps between 1854 and 1876. In the reviews made by the German engineer Paul Treutler about Valparaiso and Playa Ancha in 1852, he already mentioned some salt water pools located in this place and assembled on two scrapped sloops, joined together and placed close to the beach: "Here, the ladies of Valparaiso gathered in order to refresh themselves enjoying ice creams and fruits given by polite gentlemen. At both sides of this facility were the cabins where the baths were taken. It was possible to enter into them by a drilled drawer, submerged until the water reached the chest, so that the bather was sure not to drown and enjoyed the protection against sharks and other animals"
Flach Submarine
editThe submarine was not built in the railaway Maestranza of Limache, but in the fishing cove of Las Torpederas in Valparaiso and from there the iron plate ship was towed and anchored in front of the old Regional Intendence located in Plaza Sotomayor. In that area, Karl Fach performed three immersion tests and in the last one, he passed away with his son, Enrique. As the doctor Guillermo Stegen Ahumada, with a neatly ordered folder with photographs, information and newspapers clipping between his hands remember, the German ingenieer lived in Tubilda street, today Almirante Montt, near the corner of Pasaje Wagner in the same region.