CORONEL

city, Concepcin provincia, Bo-Bo regin, south-central Chile. It lies along the Gulf of Arauco of the Pacific Ocean, just south of Concepcin. Founded in 1851, it received city status in 1875 and developed with the coal mines in the vicinity, becoming a primary coal-bunkering port and functioning as a shipping as well as commercial centre. Most of Chile's coal comes from the modernized mines of Coronel and adjacent Lota, making Coronel the nation's chief coaling station. Company-owned pine and eucalyptus plantations supply mine and construction timber and some lumber for commerce. There are also foundries, shops, and planned company housing areas. The port was the scene of a British naval defeat in 1914, for which the British took vengeance against the German navy at the Falkland Islands later in the year. Pop. (1985 est.) 51,770.