The Malaspina Expedition and the mapping of Chile

Abstract

The scientific expedition commanded by Alejandro Malaspina and sponsored by the Spanish Crown between 1789 and 1794 to its overseas possessions, had between its objectives to make hydrographic cartography of the territory where it passed. Between these geographic spaces was the gobernación de Chile, a territory in which a large amount of astronomic and geodesic information was surveyed from different places which now form part of the Republic of Chile. Many of these places were geographically located and maps of the main ports like San Carlos of Chiloé, Valparaíso, Coquimbo and Arica were done, as well as spherical maps in which the Chilean coast is reviewed. At the same time, terrestrial maps of part of present Chile, were also prepared.

The cartographic work made by the expedition in its trip in general and in the gobernación de Chile in particular, allowed to achieve the main objetive successfully and gave to the Chilean territory, a valuable legacy for its terrestrial cartography and specially for its naval and hydrographic cartography.