Natural hazards and exposure of strategic connectivity in extreme territories. Comau Fjord, North Patagonia, Chile

Abstract

The conditions of natural hazards and exposure of economic activities in a norpatagonic fjord, an extreme territory in continental Chiloé, was analyzed due to the lack of terrestrial communication routes. Although the population is scarce, not the economic activities linked to aquaculture. The State of Chile has planned to build an Austral Route (Route CH-7) on the eastern slope of the fjord In this scenario, the natural hazard are analyzed and also how will be potentially affected the land. Methodologically, geomorphological work and GIS geoinformation processing were carried out to establish the hazard; these were superimposed on land and water uses. The result expresseed a territory with multi-hazards and a high exposure of current and projected economic activities, enhanced by the influence of the Austral highway.