LUGAR BÍO BÍO REGION (VIII REGION) In terms of population and economic productivity, the Bío Bío Region is the second most important region in Chile, following the Metropolitan Region. The fishing, forestry, and agricultural sectors are features of the regional economy. There has been growth in the fishing industry in the catch of fish and algae collection, permitting the development of the industries of fish meal, canned, frozen, dehydrated, and smoked fish, and the drying of algae.   PROVINCE OF CONCEPCIÓN Concepción, regional capital The city is located 515 kms. south of Santiago. It can be reached by air on regular daily flights from Santiago, which take 50 minutes. Access by land is via the Panamerican Highway, Route 5 South, which takes approximately 6 hours. The city has a warm, temperate, “Mediterranean”-type climate with periodic rain. Temperatures vary between 14º C and 12º C on the coast and in the mountainous areas. Rainfall is over 1,000 mm per year, and it occurs mainly between the months of April and November. The University Neighborhood and the various museums located in Concepción, Talcahuano, and Lota, with their glass showcases and objects remind us of the past and present of the city, in an encounter with history, the arts, and sciences. Concepción, with 200,000 inhabitants, is a financial, commercial, and service center, which is complemented by an important infrastructure of hotels, restaurants, pubs, and places to dance and socialize that provide rest and recreation. Essentially a university town, seven centers of higher learning confirm its place as one of the country’s cultural centers. The seat of many congresses and seminars, important art galleries, murals by renowned local and foreign painters, museums, movie festivals, theater, poetry readings, and concerts of classical, jazz and rock music are some of the artistic expressions that are enjoyed immensely. North of Concepción lies Talcahuano, the main port in the south where the ship named the Monitor Huáscar, the Hualpén Museum and Park, Hualpén Peninsula Nature Sanctuary, Martínez de Rosas lookout, and Huachipato steel plant are located. Talcahuano The privileged location of Talcahuano, between two bays, represents a unique geographic position on the Pacific Ocean, which enables the city to have two ports with deep, protected waters. The port terminals are used for trade, industry, industrial and artisan fishing, defense, and for an oil terminal, providing service to the entire central southern part of Chile.   PESCA SUR fair is held al Centro de Eventos Sur Activo, located on Autopista Concepción (highway) on 8590 Talcahuano street. SurActivo began its operations in October of 2003 with the purpose of granting the south of Chile a fairground space and place for events that is the biggest in the south of Chile. Sur Activo is altogether an architectonic space of 6 thousand square meters destined to shelter the most prestigious business, academic and cultural events. Its construction is immersed in a surrounding of green parks and gardens, with spacious parking lots and multiple facilities for exhibitors and participants. Ver planos de la feria >