The great trunk railway from Santiago south to Puerto Montt crosses the western part of the province and also connects it with the port of Concepción.
By Decree #1,213 of 27 of November 4, 1975, the VIII Region comprises the provinces of Bio Bío, Arauco and Concepción.
As a province, Biobío is a second-level administrative division of Chile, governed by a provincial governor who is appointed by the president.
It receives 1,275 millimetres (50.2 in) of rain per year, among the highest of all Chilean wine valleys, although winds prevent excessive humidity - a phenomenon that can also be observed in northern France.
[citation needed] The UK's Co-Op's Bio Bío Valley Malbec (2014) was awarded silver at the International Wine Challenge and a bronze from Decanter magazine.