CURICO

curico, a province of central chile, lying between the provinces of colchagua and talca and extending from the pacific to the argentine frontier; area, 2978 sq. m.; pop. (1895) 103,242. the eastern and western sections are mountainous, and are separated by the fertile valley of central chile. the mineral resources are undeveloped, but are said to include copper, gold and silver. cattle, wheat and wine are the principal products, but indian corn and fruit also are produced. on the coast are important salt-producing industries. the climate is mild and the rainfall more abundant than at the northern part of the valley, and the effects of this are to be seen in the better pasturage. irrigation is used to a large extent. the province was created in 1865 by a division of colchagua. the capital is curico, on the mataquito river, in lat. 34 deg. 58' s. long. 71 deg. 19' w., 114 m. s. of santiago by the chilean central railway, which crosses the province. the city stands on the great central plain, 748 ft. above sea-level, and in the midst of a comparatively well-cultivated district. it was founded in 1742 by jose de manso, and is one of the more cultured and progressive provincial towns of chile. pop. (1895) 12,669. vichiquen, on a tide-water lake on the coast, is a prosperous town, the centre of the salt trade.