Facts About Chile

Chile occupies a long and narrow strip of land on the Pacific Coast, and it is divided into three distinct geographic and climatic regions: the arid northern desert, the temperate central region, and the cold, windswept south. The majority of Chile's population lives in the middle of the country. Chile has a strong economy based on mining, especially of copper, and agricultural goods, largely for export.

Chile is bounded on the north by Peru, on the east by Bolivia and Argentina, and on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. It has an extreme northern-southern length of approximately 4,270 km (about 2,650 mi), but its average width is less than 180 km (110 mi). The dominant physical feature of Chile is the Andes Mountains, which extend the entire length of the country, from the Bolivian plateau in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south. The country's capital and largest city is Santiago.

Chile can be divided longitudinally into three topographic zones: the lofty Andean cordillera on the east; the low coastal mountains on the west; and the plateau area, which includes the Central Valley, between these ranges. Latitudinally, three major geographical and climatological regions can be distinguished: the northern (arid), central (Mediterranean), and southern (temperate marine) regions.

Chile's economy is based on the export of minerals, which account for about half of the total value of exports. Copper is the nation's most valuable resource, and Chile is the world's largest producer of the mineral. Agriculture is the main occupation of about 15% of the population; it accounts for about 10% of the national wealth, and produces less than half of the domestic needs. The production of an adequate food supply remains one of Chile's major economic problems. Wheat, potatoes, corn, beans, sugar beets, and fruit are the chief crops; a variety of vegetables, fruits, and grains are grown in the Vale of Chile, the country's primary agricultural area. The vineyards of the valley are the basis of Chile's growing wine industry. Livestock production includes beef and poultry. Sheep raising is the chief pastoral occupation, providing wool and meat for domestic use and for export. Fishing is also an important economic activity.

The majority of Chile's population is mestizo, a result of frequent intermarriage between early Spanish settlers and indigenous inhabitants. Many Chileans are also of German, Italian, Irish, British, or Yugoslav ancestry. Three small indigenous groups are still distinguishable—the Araucanians of central Chile, the Changos of North Chile, and the Fuegians of Tierra del Fuego. Chile is predominantly urban, with more than a third of the total population concentrated in and around Santiago and Viña Del Mar. Nearly 90% of the people are at least nominally Roman Catholic. Spanish is the country's official language.

• Atacama Desert: The Atacama Desert of Chile is a sparsely populated virtually rainless plateau, running from the Pacific Ocean to the Andes Mountains.
• The Andes: The many streams, hotsprings, waterfalls, lagoons and hidden passes of the high Andes have not changed since the Spanish conquistadors rode across them almost 500 years ago.
• Central Valleys: The Andes Mountains rise to the east with peaks over 6,600 meters. The landscape is semi-arid in the foothills, with permanently snow-capped mountains. This sector's small population works in the mines, the hydroelectric power plants or looking after animals.
• Patagonia: This region located in the southern end of South America embraces partially the territory of Argentina and Chile. Since it was discovered, the single mention of its name wakes up the fascination of the distant, virgin and not very well-known.
• Santiago de Chile: Santiago de Chile is the capital of Chile is situated on the Mapocho River, in the central part of the country. It is also Chile's largest city has the snow-capped Andes Mountains visible to the east.
• Easter Island: Easter Island is known as Isla de Pascua in Spanish, Easter Island lies about 3,700 km west of the Chilean coast. Dutch explorer Jakob Roggeveen landed here on Easter Day in 1722, hence the name. Several thousand Polynesians lived on the volcanic island at the time, but their numbers were reduced by disease and capture during the slave trade. The origins of the carved statues on Easter Island are uncertain. There is also evidence that the islanders possessed an early form of writing, by carving pictures on wooden tablets.

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