The regional capital Puerto Montt, a port city, is on the Chacao Channel just across from the island of Chiloé. There are 716,769 inhabitants in this region of 48,583.6 km2. The Gulf of Corcovado is one of the most important feeding and calving grounds for the endangered blue whale. Regional economic activity centers around a vast aquaculture industry that produces most of the salmon consumed around the world. Agricultural products, tourism, and forestry are also significant economic contributors. Leading export products include various fish and shellfish, and agribusiness products. The region’s abundant rainfall has led to the development of unique vegetation which blankets vast portions of the region. The king of the Chilean native forest, however, is the Patagonian Cypress, a native tree which often grows to be 4 m in circumference, 40 m tall and 3,000 years old. The island of Chiloé has an extremely rich cultural and architectural heritage. Around the island are houses on stilts which sit by the water’s edge and a myriad of wooden churches, recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.