The Nevados de Sollipulli, an ice-filled volcanic caldera surrounded by numerous hot water springs and geysers, lie south of the town.

At the edge of the Nevados de Sollipulli, at the Alpehue intersection 33 km (21 mi) away, there are several hot springs with water from 40 to 70 °C (104 to 158 °F), even in the middle of glacier blocks.

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Melipeuco spans an area of 1,107.3 km2 (428 sq mi) and has 5,628 inhabitants (2,908 men and 2,720 women).

[3] As a commune, Melipeuco is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years.

The commune is represented in the Senate by Alberto Espina Otero (RN) and Jaime Quintana Leal (PPD) as part of the 14th senatorial constituency (Araucanía-North).