Isla de Pascua Department, also named Easter Island Department,^[1] was one of the departments of the historical province of Valparaíso before the "regionalization" of 1974. It was named after Easter Island and comprised such territory and the Sala y Gómez island. It was effectively replaced in 1976 by the Isla de Pascua Province.

History

The department was created by Law No. 16.441 by president Eduardo Frei Montalva. It became effective on 1 March 1966, when it was published in the Diario Oficial de la República de Chile. Hanga Roa was declared as the capital of the department, and would comprise the territories of Easter Island and Isla Sala y Gómez. Its only commune-subdelegation was Isla de Pascua, subdivided into three districts.^[2]

The law also indicated that the department would belong, in Chamber of Deputies elections, to the Valparaíso and Quillota departmental circunscription. As the commune was created, a municipality was named by the president, with seven members (regidores). Their term expired in May 1967. A local court was created.^[2]

Administration

The local administration was located in Hanga Roa, where the departmental government was located.

Governors

Governor	Party	Term	President
Carlos Bastías Alvarado	IND	13 September 1973 – 25 September 1973	Augusto Pinochet
Omar Fuenzalida Tobar	IND	25 September 1973 – 3 August 1974
Giuseppe Arru Domínguez	IND	3 August 1974 – 23 February 1975
Arnt Arentsen Pettersen	IND	23 February 1975 – 1 January 1976