PUERTO MONTT

port and capital of Llanquihue provincia and of Los Lagos regin, southern Chile. It lies at the head of Reloncav Bay (an inlet of the Pacific), adjacent to Tenglo Island. Founded in 1853, the settlement was named for Manuel Montt, then president of Chile. Early German settlers have given it a distinctive appearance. Puerto Montt is a commercial centre for an agricultural hinterland, which yields grains (especially wheat), potatoes, and livestock, as well as for the offshore fishing grounds. The city's industries include fish canning, tanning, and sawmilling. The Pan-American Highway and main north-south railroad terminate in the city, as do sea routes through the archipelagoes southward to Punta Arenas. It also has an international airport. Its setting amid forested hills, fjords, lakes, and snowcapped Andes have made it a popular resort, despite earthquakes. Pop. (1989 est.) mun., 120,342.