Rancagua

Capital of the Cachapoal province and the O'Higgins region in the Central Valley of Chile; population (1996) 210,473. Rancagua is located 80 km/50 mi south of Santiago, to which it is linked by a direct road and electrified railway line. It is primarily an agricultural centre, but also serves as a railhead for the vast El Teniente copper mine - the largest underground copper mine in the world - 40 km/25 mi to the east. There is also some industry, including light engineering and vehicle assembly.

To the south are the thermal springs of Cauqueries, and nearby is the hydroelectric plant of Rapel.

Rancagua was the site, in 1814, of a major battle during the Wars of Independence. Bernardo O'Higgins and his revolutionary troops were outnumbered and forced to fight a rearguard action against numerically superior Royalist forces.