Isla Grande de Chiloé, a 250 km long and 50 km wide rectangle, is the first island to come into view as you cross the Chacao Channel by ferry. The archipelago of Chiloé is composed of 30 islands, each of which offers visitors views of rolling hills and villages filled with brightly colored wooden houses. One of the first things that you will notice is the genuine charm of its people, the Chilotes –descendents of Spanish colonizers and the Huilliche people-, who are renowned for their hospitality. The colorful houses on stilts, or palafitos, have become one of the classic images of Chiloé, as have its 18th and 19th century wooden churches, 16 of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Ancud, Castro and Quellón are the most important cities of the area, as well as the up and coming Rilan Peninsula, north of Castro. These are just a few starting points from which to explore the beautiful landscape and discover the delicious cuisine of the area, with all its mythology and local festivals.
One of the best ways to discover the culture of Chiloé is by kayak or to take a ferry to Quinchao, Lemuy, San Pedro and the Chauques Islands, where you can attend local celebrations and listen to traditional myths and legends.
Though the cultural aspects of Chiloé definitely seem to take center stage, the area’s natural bounty is impossible to miss. The sea and forest converge in a wild and solitary landscape on Isla Grande de Chiloé, which is home to a national park located in the western part of the island and Tantauco Park to the south. Visitors can spot Chilote foxes, hundreds of birds species and humpback whales on their way toPatagonia. Tantauco Park also boasts an impressive network of hiking trails that wind through larch, myrtle and cypress trees.
Extracted from <http://www.chile.travel/en/where-to-go/islands/chiloe.html>
TASK 1: Listening Comprehension
Watch the following clip by UNESCO on the Churches of Chiloé. Then, answer the questions below.
1. How many islands form the Chiloé Archipelago?
2. What civilization invaded Chiloé Island, when, and for what reason?
3. Out of what material are Chiloé churches mainly made?
4. What location did builders prefer to construct churches in Chiloé?
5. Out of what material are the walls of the Church of Achao (the oldest church in Chiloé) made?
6. Why does the Church of Achao have fish scales carved in its design?
7. Which two styles were cleverly “blended” in the Church of Achao, according to the narrator?
To reflect: Why do you think Chiloé remains one of the most famous tourist attractions for tourists world-wide?
Means of Transportation in Chiloé
Take a look at how people cross to the Magical Island from the mainland!
TASK 2: Writing a Descriptive Text
You will produce a descriptive text about Chiloé using various sources of information. Before you start writing, let’s review the basic elements that your descriptive text will need to be appropriate!
Click HERE to check out some extra tips on how to write a descriptive text!
Now, it’s time to write:
Instructions: Explore the following websites which have a lot of information about Chiloé, its different attractions, activities you can do there, photos, videos, etc. Then, produce a descriptive text of 80 – 100 words, describing the Magical Island using the information you found. Publish it as a new post on your wordpress page along with a picture of Chiloé. This must be an ORIGINAL piece and cannot be copied and pasted from the sources!
WEBSITES:
UNESCO: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/971/
CHILE TRAVEL: http://www.chile.travel/en/where-to-go/islands/chiloe.html
THINGS TO DO: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/chile/chiloe/things-to-do
7TH GRADE ISE-1 