Maule Region

The VII Maule Region () is one of Chile's 16 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca.
The region is named after its main river: the Maule river.
History.
The city of Talca was founded in 1692 by General Governor Tomás Marín de Poveda. On 17 February 1742 it got the name of "Villa San Agustín de Talca" by Governor José Antonio Manso de Velasco. Curicó followed in 1743, Linares and Parral in 1794.
In Talca is the house where Bernardo O'Higgins signed the proclamation of the independence of Chile on 12 February 1818. It is now a museum.
Geography.
The Maule region borders the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins region to the north, Argentina to the east, the Ñuble region to the south and the Pacific Ocean on the west.
The two main rivers in the region are the Maule and the Mataquito rivers.
Population.
, there were (estimated) 1,042,989 persons living in the region, for a population density of inhabitants/km².
People from this region are known as "Maulinos" (women: "Maulinas").
The largest city in the region is Talca, with 189,505 inhabitants (2002 census).
Administration.
The Maule region is further subdivided into four provinces: Talca, Curicó, Linares and Cauquenes.