The Maule river is of considerable historic interest because, among other reasons, it marked the southern limits of the Inca Empire.

From west to east, the region extends from the Pacific coast over the Chilean Coast Range (Cordillera de la Costa) to include a portion of the Chilean Central Valley, and the Andes mountains from the foothills to the crest.

For example, the endangered Chilean wine palm (Jubaea chilensis) is found in a very limited distribution that includes the Maule Region.

Owing to its high concentration of vineyards, the Curicó Valley, which means "black water" in Mapudungun, is considered the core of Chile's wine industry.

[citation needed] In addition to wine, two export-oriented agricultural items have emerged dynamically: fruit, vegetables and flowers.

The Maule Region has produced a remarkable number of famous men and women, in particular writers and poets but also, statesmen and presidents, scientists and naturalists, churchmen, musicians and folklorists, journalists and historians.

Several anthologies, author's dictionaries and essays have given their account of the cultural wealth of the region.

[citation needed] The region boasts of many small towns and villages with well-preserved colonial rural architecture, both in the religious as well as the civil fields.

[citation needed] At 03:34 local time (06:34 UTC), an 8.8 magnitude earthquake occurred off the Maule coast approximately 11 km (7 mi) southwest of Curanipe and 100 km (62 mi) north-northeast of Chile's second largest city, Concepción.