Aisén

Region in southern Chile, made up of the provinces of Coihaique, Aisén, General Correra, and Capitan Prat; area 109,025 sq km/42,095 sq mi; population (1996 est) 87,800. The principal town and capital is Coihaique. Puerto Aisén is also a sizeable settlement. The province is an important area for mining and cattle- and sheep-rearing.

The Carretera Austral, an extension of the Pan-American Highway from Puerto Montt through Coihaique and beyond to Puerto Yungay, was completed in 1988, making access to this mountainous Andean region far easier.