Chile - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Chile is located in southern South America, along the Pacific Coast.

It has an area of 292,258 square miles (756,945 square kilometers).

Santiago is the capital of Chile.

The peso, which is equal to 100 centavos, is Chile's official currency.

Chile has a presidential system of government.

Geography and Climate

The Andes Mountains run along eastern Chile, forming a natural border with Argentina.

There are many volcanoes in northern Chile, in the Andes. These include Volcán Rutana and Volcán Lascar.

The Tatio geysers are located at the foot of Cerros de Tocorpuri, a group of volcanoes in northern Chile, near the border with Bolivia.

Northern Chile's Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. In some parts of the Atacama Desert, rainfall has never been recorded. This desert has many salt lakes.

In the center of the country, where most of the people live, there is a valley with a mild climate. There are many rivers in central Chile. Deposits from these rivers have enabled the soil in this area to become very fertile.

There are wet, cold forested grasslands in the South.

Along the Pacific coast are lower mountain ranges.

Chile's indented coastline contains many geological features that are associated with glaciation.

Patagonia, in southern Chile and Argentina, consists of a mountainous zone in the Andes in the west and a lower plateau that runs eastward. Patagonia experiences extreme variations in climate. The landscape is spotted with dark lava fields that contrast with light bunchgrass.

Glaciers have created many of Patagonia's physical features, including its lakes and fjords.

Patagonia has the third largest ice sheet in the world, surpassed only in size Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets.

The archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, off of the southern end of the South American mainland, is shared by Chile and Argentina. The largest island in the archipelago, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego is divided between the two countries. Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego is the largest island in South America.

Cape Horn, at the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego, is part of Chile. Cape Horn is the southernmost point in South America.

People

16,970,000 people live in Chile.

90% of the people are either of European descent or mixed race. There is a Native American minority. About 800,000 indigenous Mapauche live in southern Chile.

Spanish is the official language.

Native American languages are also spoken.

80% of the people are Roman Catholic.

Economy

Chile has many mineral resources.

It exports more copper than any other country on Earth.

The Chuquicamata copper mine in northern Chile is the largest open-cast copper mine on Earth. It is located on a desert plateau in the Andes, near Calama.

There are also reserves of gold, iron ore, molybdenum and nitrates.

Fishing, forestry and agriculture are also important.

Chile has a large wine industry.

Radiata pine is grown in the south.