town and commune, southern Chile. It lies on the northern coast of Chiloé Island, across the Strait of Chacao from the mainland. Founded in 1769 as San Carlos de Ancud, it was one of the last strongholds of royalist forces during Chile's struggle for independence from Spain in the first quarter of the 19th century. It was the provincial capital of Chiloé provincia from 1937 to 1974. Ancud is a port and commercial centre for its hinterland, which yields potatoes, wheat, livestock, and timber. Timber is its principal export. The town is linked by road and ferry to Puerto Montt and by road to Castro, the provincial capital and oldest settlement on Chiloé Island. Pop. (2002) town 27,292.