Unforeseen Ways of Change
In the 1990s, the Chilean government paved the Pucón-Caburgua road and installed running water, electricity, and telephone service. As tourists began exploring the lake's beauty, some residents built cabins, rented rooms, and leased houses. Farmers sold vacationers fruit, vegetables, and meat. With its sandy beaches and surrounding mountains, the lake became popular with swimmers and boaters.
Gradually, tourists acquired property. Land tenure patterns changed. An ambitious real estate venture failed, but others later succeeded. Two Chilean presidents built summer homes by the lake. As a symbol of this progress, the government designed an attractive new school.
Image Descriptions (Left to Right)
To handle overflowing tourist traffic the road approaching the lake was widened to four lanes in the 1990s.
The government-built wharf extends into lake. Unfortunately, due to drought the receding lake frequently leaves the wharf out of water.
- The Caburgua Visual Archive: Overview
- Rural Chile's Struggle with Isolation
- Geographical and Political Distances
- Pucón Tourism Opens a Door
- Unforeseen Ways of Change
- Remembering the Past
- First Impressions
- The Spanish Conquest and Mapuche Rebellion
- New Immigrants
- Unique Forests and Flowers
- Adjusting to Nature's Laws
- Welcome to Caburgua
- Mate and History
- Politics: A Sport Becomes Dangerous
- Rural Unemployment
- Animals and Fruit
- Problems of Education
- Agriculture
- Fiestas
- Rites and other Celebration
- The Beginnings of Change
- Transformation