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General information
State structure: presidential republic. The highest legislative body is National Congress, consisting of 2 chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies; supreme executive body yavl. The Cabinet of Ministers is headed by the President, who, since 2006, has been elected by popular vote for a 4-year term, without the right of re-election for a second term. The current president is (Spanish: Sebastián Piñera Echenique). For a complete list of Chilean presidents, see.
In territorial and administrative terms, the state is divided into 15 regions (Regiones).
State Language: The official language of Chile is Spanish. Many residents who speak Spanish continue to communicate with each other in German and Araucano; by the way, most Chileans speak English quite well. Also spoken here are Mapudungun (Mapuche language), Aymara (in the northern region of the country) and Rapa Nui (in the Polynesian Easter Island area).
P.S. Chileans speak Spanish very quickly and incomprehensibly, often swallowing the last letters of words, and they also like to include the English-style ending “s” in plural meanings. In addition, slang terms and expressions are often used in everyday life, which even native speakers of traditional Spanish do not understand without explanation.
Religion: The dominant religion is Catholicism: more than 70% of the population are adherents of the Roman Catholic Church. In addition to Catholics, there are quite influential groups of Protestants (about 15% of the population), there are also believers professing Judaism (1.06%), Mormons (0.92%) and representatives of other religions. 4.4% of Chileans identify themselves as atheists.
Currency: State currency: (CLP).
Favorite sports games: Football is almost everything in Chile. Every local resident is simply obliged to have his favorite football team (in 60% of cases it is Universidad de Chile); sports such as rugby, tennis, running, cycling, etc. are also quite popular.
Population
The population of the state is about 18.05 million people, which are evenly distributed along the entire length of the country. The main concentration of the population is concentrated in the central regions: in the cities of Santiago, Concepcion, Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, Antofagasta, Temuco, etc.
Chileans of the 21st century. consist of 3 main groups: Spanish-speaking Chileans; immigrants and their descendants from the countries of America, Europe and Asia who arrived here in the 20th century; indigenous Indian peoples.
It is also necessary to mention the Polynesians - Rapanui (Easter) - the indigenous inhabitants of the island. Easter.
The racial composition of Chile's population is approximately as follows: about 25% of the inhabitants belong to the white race (descendants of Spaniards, Italians, Germans), almost 70% are mestizos - descendants of mixed marriages of Indians with whites, indigenous Indians make up about 6.6%.
The national composition of immigrants is very diverse, but Spaniards and Italians predominate. In recent decades, immigrants have mainly arrived here from neighboring countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Peru.
Most of Chile's population is employed primarily in mining, agriculture and fishing.
Chileans have an average of 10 years of education, the country has one of the lowest illiteracy rates in the entire continent (no more than 4%), and the country boasts two Nobel Prize winners in literature: (Spanish: Gabriela Mistral) and (Spanish: Pablo Neruda). Average life expectancy is 79 years, with low rates of infant mortality (7.9%) and malnutrition.
The most characteristic physical attributes of local residents include a fairly dark skin tone, average height (160 cm for women and 170 cm for men) and black thick hair.
Excursion into history
Before the Spanish invasion, the territory of Chile was inhabited by numerous nomadic Indian tribes. The most powerful and influential tribes were the Araucans or Mapuches, inhabiting the Central part. Being very independent and warlike, they were the only major Indian tribal association of Indians that did not submit to the Spanish crown. Only at the end of the 19th century. the Spanish conquistadors managed to push them into the southern forests and force them to submit.
The first attempt to conquer the country dates back to 1535, when the Spanish adelantado (Spanish: Diego de Almagro), a comrade (Spanish: Francisco Pizarro) of the conqueror of Peru, led a military expedition, leading it through the glaciers of the Andes. The Spaniards reached the Central Valley of the country, but not finding treasures and encountering desperate resistance from the Araucans, they returned to Peru.
In 1540, Pizarro sent his lieutenant (Spanish Pedro de Valdivia) to conquer Chile, who on February 12, 1541 founded the city of Santiago on the banks of the Mapocho River (Spanish Río Mapocho), making it the capital of the Spanish colony, which was home to about 1000 Spaniards. Then, moving further south, Valdivia founded several more cities, incl. (Spanish: Concepción) and Valdivia. In 1553, Pedro de Valdivia was captured and executed by Indians led by the Araucanian leader Lautaro (Spanish: Lautaro). Lautaro became the hero of Chilean legends and went down in history thanks to the heroic-epic poem “Araucana” by the Spanish conquistador and poet Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga (Spanish: Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga, 1533-1594)
There was too little gold in Chile to attract large numbers of settlers from Europe. The colonists were engaged in growing wheat; cattle ranches, vineyards and orchards also provided good income. Gradually the Spaniards penetrated south to the river. Bio-Bio and through the Andes chain to the east, into the territory of what is now Argentina. In 1778, the colony was given the status of captaincy general; the captain general was appointed personally by the King of Spain.
Despite the territorial isolation, the country experienced steady population growth. Many of the Catalans or Basques who settled here formed an influential class of landowning aristocrats, which to this day plays an important role in the political and cultural life of the state. Since, according to the laws, all trade was conducted through Peru, there were illegal contacts with English and Dutch smugglers who reached here through the Strait of Magellan.
One adventure from the life of smugglers served as the basis for Defoe's novel about Robinson Crusoe: the case of the Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, thrown by a storm onto the uninhabited islands of the Juan Fernandez archipelago. The flow of smuggling decreased somewhat when the country gained the right to trade with the rest of the Spanish colonies.
When Napoleon overthrew King Ferdinand VII in 1808, the country was still a Spanish colony. On July 14, 1810, the Chilean Creoles rebelled, removing the Spanish protege and installing a Creole aristocrat as governor, and in September the National Government Junta was formed. After 4 years of rebellion and anarchy, the Peruvian viceroy regained control over Chile, but she had already tasted the taste of freedom.
Chile includes various geographical zones: valleys, desert, fjords, glaciers, archipelagos and islands.
By latitude, the entire territory is divided into 3 regions, sharply different from each other in the structure of the relief and climatic conditions:
- Desert region in the north, where the peaks of the Andes are highest;
- Middle China is a high-mountain region of the Central Andes, where the northern mountain plateau turns into a valley almost 1 thousand km long. and 40-80 km wide, is the most densely populated region of the country;
- Southern China is the foothills of the Southern Andes, a zone of hills covered with dense forests, and a system of narrow straits and rocky islands in the far south. Almost 80% of the continental territory of Chile is occupied by mountains, there are about 600 volcanoes (this is 1/10 of the number of all volcanoes on Earth), of which 47 are active, so earthquakes are very frequent here. The highest point of the country is considered to be (Spanish: Volcano Ojos del Salado; 6.9 thousand m), located on the border with Argentina.
Rivers and lakes
All rivers originate in either the Andes or the Coastal Cordillera and flow into the Pacific Ocean. Most rivers are quite short. The most important rivers of the country include: Loa (Spanish: Río Loa) - the longest (440 km) Chilean river, (Spanish: Río Bío Bío, 380 km) - the second largest river, Elqui (Spanish: Río Elqui, 170 km) and etc. For more information about the rivers of Chile, see.
Most of the lakes, predominantly of tectonic-glacial origin, are located in the picturesque “Lake District”, in the valleys and foothills of the Andes in southern Chile. Buenos Aires or General Carrera (Spanish: Lago General Carrera, area 1.9 thousand km²), the largest lake of glacial origin, is located on the border of Chile and Argentina (the eastern part of the lake belongs to Argentina).
Lake Llanquihue (Spanish: Lago Llanquihue, area 840 km²), the second largest, is entirely within Chilean territory. In the central part there are high-altitude freshwater lakes and coastal salt lakes, into which sea water penetrates during high tides. Table salt is mined in coastal lakes, for example, in Lake Bucalemu (Spanish: el Lago Bucalemu) near Valparaiso. In the north of the country, virtually all lakes are drainless and salty (so-called “salar”, Spanish Salar).
"Lake Region" in the foothills of the Andes
In addition to the main, continental part, the state includes several groups of coastal islands and islands located at a considerable distance from the mainland: the western part of the island "" (Spanish: Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego), Easter Island, the Juan Fernandez archipelago, Wellington Island (Spanish: Isla Wellington), etc. The islands of Chile have long attracted tourists from all over the world. For example, a Scottish sailor (Alexander Selkirk, 1676-1721), who became the prototype of the well-known Robinson, spent 4 years and 4 months (1704-1709) on an uninhabited island (Spanish: Isla Mas a Tierra, now the island of Robinson Crusoe). Easter Island is famous for its colossal stone figures erected by unknown masters of ancient civilization.
Territorial distribution of population
About 9/10 of the country's inhabitants live in the area between the cities (Spanish: Puerto Montt) and Coquimbo (Spanish: Coquimbo), accounting for less than a third of the total area of the state. Most of the population is concentrated around the capital, where natural conditions are favorable for the development of agriculture.
Almost 2/3 of the state's population lives in Central Chile, north of the Bio-Bio River. In most of the Central Valley (between the cities of Santiago (Spanish: Santiago) and Concepción, the rural population density reaches 50 people/1 km². In the Metropolitan Region, the population density exceeds 355 people/1 km².
There are large cities here (Santiago, Valparaiso, Concepcion), where government agencies, financial, scientific and educational centers are located. Most of the fertile arable land is concentrated here. The majority of industrial state enterprises are located in the capital and its environs. enterprises. The overpopulation of the central regions led, in particular, to the fact that immigrants began to settle in the forest areas south of Bio-Bio, which for a long time remained under the control of the Araucanians, the indigenous Indian tribes. The growth of such settlements accelerated significantly due to the fact that the country's government began to implement a policy of supporting colonists engaged in agriculture.
Santiago
The southern third of the state is sparsely populated, the existing population is mainly concentrated near the eastern part of the Strait of Magellan, in the area (Spanish: Punta Arenas), the southernmost city of all major cities on the planet. Almost 7% of the population lives in 3 regions of Northern Chile (Tarapaca, Antofagasta and Atacama), whose area is about 1/3 of the territory. The Atacama Desert region is inhabited by about 1 million people living in small mining and port towns. Most of the local population consists of workers and specialists recruited under contract in Central Chile. Also in the northern regions live specialists from around the world who work in copper mines.
Nature and climate
Chile is a completely unique country in terms of climate and nature. It stretches from south to north along the entire South American continent. Such an unusual extent allows the state to have almost all natural and climatic zones existing on the globe, with the exception of the humid tropics.
The north is characterized by a predominant tropical desert climate, where average monthly temperatures range from +12 °C (mid-May-August) to +26 °C (December-mid-March). To the south, the climate becomes subtropical, with summer temperatures ranging from +22-24°C, and winter temperatures around +12-18°C. The weather is similar on the Easter and Juan Fernandez islands.
The central part is dominated by a temperate oceanic climate, with temperatures ranging from +3-15°C in winter to +25°C in summer. In the south, the climate is humid, subtropical, with heavy rainfall. In the north, in the Atacama Desert, there are places that have not seen a drop of precipitation for centuries. There are other areas in the Atacama where short periods of winter rainfall produce an incredible burst of blooms in the spring, a natural phenomenon known as the Desert Bloom. The coast of this part of the country is characterized by a temperate climate.
As the altitude increases, the daytime temperature increases, while the nighttime temperature decreases. In the area, even in summer, night temperatures can drop below 0°C. In summer, a natural phenomenon called "Bolivian winter", which is characterized by sudden severe thunderstorms with hail.
To the south, delightful Mediterranean landscapes prevail with a mild climate, dry, warm summers and rainy winters: in summer (December-February) the average air temperature is + 28°C, in winter + 10°C. The coast is usually cloudy, humid and windy, and can be colder than inland areas.
Vast areas of this zone are covered with lush virgin forests. From May to August, the rainy season lasts in the interior regions of Chile; in the mountainous regions, precipitation, regardless of the season, falls more evenly; here the climate is rainy and cool. Strong winds often blow on the coast and in the Patagonian pampa. In the high mountainous regions of the state it is much colder: in some places the temperature even in summer does not rise above +3°C, and in winter it drops to −27°C.
The further south you go, the less precipitation and lower temperatures you get. The climate of the Antarctic part of Chile is polar, with frequent heavy snowfalls.
In the area of the Strait of Magellan and on the island of Tierra del Fuego, the climate is polar, in winter temperatures range from −16 to −4 °C, in summer temperatures do not exceed +18 °C. Even in summer, strong winds prevail here, fog and rain are common, and unpredictable sudden changes in weather are observed. It is cold in the mountains and there is heavy rainfall.
On Easter Island and the islands of the Juan Fernandez archipelago, the climate is subtropical, mild, with moderate humidity, pleasant temperatures and little difference between the seasons.
Largest cities
Chile is one of the longest countries in the world, so the distances between northern and southern cities can reach several thousand kilometers. Due to the very long coastline, many cities are ports.
It is considered one of the most urbanized Latin American countries. For example, in 2010, about 89% of the population lived in cities, and more than half of the inhabitants lived in the central regions of Santiago and Valparaiso.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| (Spanish Santiago) | 6.2 million |
| (Spanish: Viña del Mar) | 322.2 thousand |
| (Spanish: Valparaíso) | OK. 300 thousand |
(Spanish: Puerto Montt) Flora and faunaThe vegetation of the country varies depending on the climate zone. In the north, where the Atacama Desert is located, all kinds of cacti and thorns predominate. In Central Chile, there is a predominance of subtropical vegetation (evergreen forests and shrubs). In the south, the mountain slopes turning into valleys are covered with densely growing beech and coniferous forests, and Chilean pine trees appear here. The Central Plains is home to Copihue, a vibrant red flower with a bell-shaped cup that has become the national flower. Then the landscape gives way to the jungle, where beech, magnolia, laurel and several types of coniferous trees grow. In the far south there are steppes covered with forbs. The fauna of Chile is not as rich as in other Latin American countries, since the Andes ridges, forming a natural barrier, prevent the natural migration of animals. The most common mammals here are: alpaca, llama, vicuña, two types of deer, guanaco, puma, wolf, chinchilla, otter, nutria, and skunk. Birds are represented quite widely; even ostriches are found here. In rivers and lakes, except for introduced trout, there are almost no freshwater fish. Due to the proximity of the Humboldt Current, coastal Pacific waters are rich in fish and other marine life, which in turn support a wide variety of waterfowl, including various species of penguins. Whales are also found in abundance: about six (!) species of whales live off the coast. Chile is a country of wonders!
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Capital of Chile, like many other large South American cities, was founded by conquerors from Europe - the first stone Santiago founded in 1641 by Pedro de Valdivia, who led a handful of conquistadors. He named the future city Santiago de Nueva Extremadura after his Spanish homeland, but the name was quickly shortened. Until the early 19th century, Santiago was the seat of colonial governors, and after the eight-year war of independence in 1818 it became the capital of Chile.
Interestingly, formally a metropolis Santiago de Chile does not exist. Traditionally, this is the name for a conglomerate of several dozen communes - this is how urban areas are called in Chile. In a city whose population has long exceeded 5 million people, there is neither a mayor nor a city legislature. However, Santiago and its many guests do not suffer from this - the city is developing dynamically and quite successfully solving emerging problems.
Smog and earthquakes do not frighten Santiago residents
The place that Pedro de Valdivia chose for Santiago was indeed very successful at that time. The intermountain basin, a hundred kilometers from the Pacific coast, was protected from the winds, and its slopes were covered with fertile soils. But every medal has a reverse side - mountains are not only a good shield from the winds, but also a source of earthquakes that have repeatedly shaken Santiago. And with the development of industry, the plateau on which the capital of Chile is located has become a real reserve of smog, making breathing difficult and causing serious health problems. It was only after the tightening of environmental legislation that the smog problem was, if not solved, then significantly reduced.
As for earthquakes, Chileans seem to view them with a degree of fatalism. The boom in skyscraper construction that began in the 1990s cannot be explained in any other way.
Gradually, the perimeter of the square was built up with buildings that are now architectural monuments. These are the Cathedral, the National Museum of Chilean History (formerly the Royal Audience Building), the La Moneda Palace (the residence of the country's president) and the Post Office building.
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The square is decorated with a monument to Pedro de Valdivia and the composition “In Honor of American Freedom.”
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The heart of the Chilean Catholic Church was repeatedly destroyed by fires and earthquakes, but was invariably reborn on the site where the first Catholic church in the country's history stood. The complex, which includes not only the Cathedral, but also the magnificent building of the archbishop's residence, has been rebuilt and reconstructed several times. The most recent reconstruction was carried out after the 2010 earthquake.
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Now the Cathedral building is a combination of Baroque, Neoclassical, Romanesque and Tuscan styles. The cathedral is decorated with stucco, gilding, numerous frescoes, sculptures and icons. The cathedral and the tombs of Chilean historical figures located in it are open to the public during services.
Palace La Moneda
The building of La Moneda Palace was built at the turn of the 18th - 19th centuries for the Mint of the colonial administration. Quite quickly after Chile gained independence, the spacious building was considered suitable for housing the administration of the country's president. Over time, a place was found in the La Moneda Palace for both the Ministry of the Interior and a number of other government agencies.
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The palace building itself externally represents a fairly common example of classicism. But its history is much richer than its architecture. In 1973, participants in a military coup stormed the palace using aircraft and heavy armored vehicles, after which panoramic photos of the dilapidated residence of Chilean President Salvador Allende spread throughout the world. Allende himself committed suicide, not wanting to surrender to the putschists.
La Moneda Palace was restored only in the early 1980s. On even days, a ceremonial changing of the military guard takes place near the palace. In 2000, a monument to Allende was unveiled near the palace. In front of the southern facade there is a monument to another ousted Chilean president. Arturo Alessandri was also deposed by the military, but he was lucky enough to die a natural death in 1950.
Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
For half a century, architect Sergio Garcia-Moreno collected cultural monuments of the peoples who inhabited South America before the arrival of European colonialists. The Chilean authorities provided an early 19th-century building that previously housed customs and a court to house the collection and accompanying research institute. The Pre-Columbian Museum opened in 1981.
The museum's actively growing collection contains more than 5,000 exhibits. They are monuments to more than 100 peoples who inhabited South America for 10,000 years.
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The four halls of the museum display items made of precious metals, copper, bronze, clay, wood and dyed fabrics. The exhibition of the Museum of the Pre-Columbian Era even includes bas-reliefs brought from Easter Island.
Hill of Santa Lucia - where the city of Santiago began
Santa Lucia Hill is an island of greenery in the center of Santiago, which is very poor in green spaces. It was from the top of this hill that Pedro de Valdivia appreciated the strategic attractiveness of the area. De Valdivia climbed the hill on the day of St. Lucia (December 13), and briefly puzzled over the name of the peak.
Initially, the hill was the center of the Spaniards' defense against endless Indian raids. Accordingly, the architecture of the buildings on Santa Lucia was purely military. It was only in the 1870s that the hill was turned into a beautiful landscaped park. Numerous rotundas, fountain complexes, stairs, and towers were placed on the slopes, connecting them with paths. Historical relics have also been preserved - a Catholic chapel, part of a fort with the emblem of Santiago of the Middle Ages, several bastions and artillery positions. The highlight of Santa Lucia is the restored Hidalgo Castle.
Basilica of the Virgin of Mercedes
Like most historical monuments in Santiago, the Basilica of the Virgin of Mercedes has suffered numerous earthquakes. The building was originally built in 1566, but had to be rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries. Gradually, a monastery and outbuildings were built around the temple, now representing a single complex.
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Built in the Neo-Renaissance style, the basilica looks rather unconventional for Catholic churches. The small red and yellow building looks unusually cheerful compared to the austere beauty of other Catholic churches. The Basilica of the Virgin of Mercedes looks especially beautiful at sunset, when the reflections of the sun seem to revive the colors of the facade.
Santiago modern
Mixing styles and times Santiago city similar to other South American cities. Skyscrapers coexist with slums, strict business suits with Indian attire, on the sidewalks of the main street of the city of Alameda, street vendors lay out their goods right in front of the windows of expensive boutiques. Next to fashionable restaurants there are carts with South American fast food. The standard of living in Santiago is one of the highest in the region, and the crime rate is very low. In an hour and a half from the Chilean capital you can reach both ocean beaches and ski slopes. Santiago has good transport connectivity thanks to the metro, land transport and inexpensive taxis. For tourists there is a circular route "hop-on / hop-off", from which buses you can get off at any of 12 stops and explore the selected ones Santiago attractions, and then return to the route using the same ticket.
Chile is one of the most stable and prosperous countries in South America, leading the continent in terms of development, competitiveness, per capita income, globalization, economic freedom, low levels of corruption, media freedom and democratic development. In 2006, Chile achieved the highest nominal GDP per capita in Latin America. In May 2010, this state became the first South American country to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an international economic organization of developed countries that recognizes the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy. Good transport infrastructure, excellent hotels and restaurants, and sincere residents will make your stay in this country pleasant and memorable.
Today, the Chilean economy is the most stable in Latin America, the admiration and envy of its poorer neighbors. Copper mining, forestry, salmon farming, agriculture, high-quality wines, tourism are the main industries of the country. Despite a relatively high GDP and a more stable economy than most other Latin American countries, Chile is characterized by an uneven distribution of income and accumulated wealth among its residents. Chile's ten richest families own nearly 42% of the country's national wealth, yet half the population lives below the poverty line. This country still has a long way to go to solve social problems and end poverty.
Throughout its history, Chile has not known the numerous coups and conspiracies that are so characteristic of Latin American states. The exception is the 17-year rule of General Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990). Pinochet's coup in September 1973 became one of the bloodiest in the history of Latin America of the 20th century; more than 3,000 people died or went missing during the dictatorship.
The country's relatively small central region, with its capital Santiago, dominates in population and agricultural resources. It is a cultural and political center from which Chile began expansion in the second half of the 19th century, annexing northern and southern regions. Now the capital is home to one third of Chile's 16 million population. Such is the disproportionate concentration of population in a country that stretches 4,300 km from north to south.
Chile is a multicultural society, home to a wide variety of nationalities. According to a study conducted by the University of Chile, 30% of the population are descendants of Europeans, 60% are mestizos, descendants of mixed marriages of indigenous peoples and Europeans. Europeans are mainly represented by Spanish settlers (mainly Castilians, Andalusians and Basques), minorities are represented by Germans, Italians, Irish, French, English, Russians, Swiss and Croats (the latter are especially numerous in Southern Patagonia). The descendants of Chile's black population make up less than one percent. According to the 2002 census, 4.6% of the Chilean population consider themselves indigenous.
In 1848, German immigration to Chile began, creating compact areas of residence for immigrants from German lands. Supported by the government of the country with the aim of colonizing the southern regions, it greatly influenced the ethnic composition of the southern provinces of the state. German immigrants made a significant cultural impact in many sparsely populated areas of the south. The Chilean Embassy in Germany estimates that between 500,000 and 600,000 Chileans, or 3% to 3.5% of the country's population, are descendants of German immigrants.
Indigenous groups, such as the Aymara in the northern desert and the Mapuche in the Lake District, are still present in large concentrations, although in small numbers compared with their numbers before the Spanish conquest. It is estimated that more than 500,000 Mapuches live in modern Chile, many of whom have retained their own language and adhere to their own traditions. If you travel through areas inhabited by Mapuches, you will definitely be offered silver and nickel-plated jewelry. In the southern environs of Chile and Tierra del Fuego, indigenous groups such as the Alakaluf and Yamana make up a tiny handful of inhabitants, and some, such as the Selk'nam, are already extinct.
The country's residents refer to their nationality based on citizenship rather than ethnicity.
Language
Spanish is the official language in Chile (as in most Latin American countries). Chileans use a variety of dialects, with differences in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and use of slang. Spanish-speaking foreigners will have no problem understanding the language.
English is well understood in major cities, especially Santiago, and to a lesser extent Valparaiso, Concepción and La Serena. Because English is compulsory in school, young people are much more likely to speak English than older generations. Over 40s are unlikely to speak English unless they work in the tourism industry.
In some regions of Chile, part of the indigenous population speaks their native languages: Arucan in the south of the country, Quechua in the Atacama and Tarapaca regions, and Rapanui on Easter Island. Communication in these languages is limited to indigenous Indians, who make up less than 5% of the population. Even many Chileans who identify with one of these groups are unable to speak their native language and speak Spanish.
In the south of the country, where many German settlers live who arrived in the second half of the 19th century, part of the population speaks German.
Contrary to the stereotype of the always outgoing and hot-blooded Latinos, Chileans are more conservative than their neighbors from other South American countries. Modesty, lack of desire to stand out from others in some way - these words can describe the average Chilean. This may well be a result of Chile's unique geography, cut off by the Andes, the Atacama Desert and the Pacific Ocean.
Walking along the streets of Santiago and other Chilean cities, one is struck by their unostentatious appearance; the vast majority dress very modestly; none of this monochromatic crowd stands out for their style and high cost of clothing. You will not find rudeness and swearing on the streets. The houses have good, but modest furnishings. Nobody shows off their high level of income, if any. Life flows at its own pace: everything is calm, leisurely and measured, and Chileans are very friendly people, especially in small towns and rural areas.
Chileans are very patriotic, as evidenced by the Independence Day celebrations, when Chileans garland their streets and cars with Chilean flags, a display of national pride. In rural areas and small towns outside of Santiago, Chileans tend to be more accommodating and hospitable to strangers.
(Republic of Chile)
General information
Geographical location. Chile is a state whose territory stretches for 4,330 km along the western, Pacific coast of South America. The state is separated from the rest of the mainland by the high Andes ridges. The latter circumstance determined the special historical path of Chile. The width of the strip between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, where this state exists, does not exceed 350 km, and in some places -100 km. In the north, Chile borders with Peru and Bolivia, in the east with Argentina (the border passes through inaccessible areas of the Andes), the extreme continental point in the south is Cape Horn, and in the west Chile is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Chile owns several Pacific islands, quite distant from the mainland. For example, the Juan Fernandez archipelago lies 700 km from Valparaiso. These islands are known for their extremely distinctive vegetation. Another famous Pacific island belonging to Chile, Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is 3,700 km from the coast of South America. Easter Island became famous for the fact that traces of ancient civilization-sculptures were discovered here, monuments, the meaning of which and the method of construction, scientists have not yet been able to fully explain. Finally, Chile owns a large section of Antarctica - the entire territory of the southern continent between 53° and 90° west longitude, the area of which exceeds the area of the American part of Chile and is equal to 1.25 million square meters. km. Lands with such coordinates have belonged to Chile since the 16th century. The 1940 decree legally secured Chile's right to these territories. Currently, several Chilean bases have been built in Antarctica.
Square. The territory of Chile occupies 756,945 square meters. km.
Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of Chile is Santiago. The largest cities are Concepcion (400 thousand people), Viña del Mar (340 thousand people), Valparaiso (300 thousand people), Talcahuano (180 thousand people), Antofagasta (150 thousand people) . The territory of Chile is divided into 13 administrative provinces, which are assigned numbers. Provinces are numbered from north to south. The exception to this rule is the Santiago metropolitan area.
State system
Chile Republic. The head of state is the president. The highest legislative body is the bicameral National Congress (Senate and Chamber of Deputies).
Relief. The territory of Chile stretches along the Pacific coast for 4,300 km and is occupied mostly by the Andes ridges (altitude up to 6,880 m), between which lies the Longitudinal Valley.
Geological structure and minerals. The country's subsoil contains reserves of copper, iron ore, precious metals, and molybdenum.
Climate. The climate ranges from tropical desert (average monthly temperatures from 12 to 22°C; precipitation 50 mm per year) in the north to temperate oceanic in the south (temperatures from 3 to 14°C; precipitation 2,500-7,000 mm per year).
Inland waters. The main rivers are Bio-Bio, Loa. In the south of the country there is the Large Lakes Zone.
Soils and vegetation. In the north there is the Atacama Desert, in Central Chile there is subtropical vegetation (evergreen shrubs and forests), in the south the valleys and mountain slopes are covered with dense beech and coniferous forests.
Animal world. The fauna of Chile is characterized by puma, wolf, chinchilla, llama, pudu deer, skunk, otter, nutria, and rodents. Many birds (including ostrich).
Population and language
About 13.5 million people live in Chile. Ethnic groups: indigenous people of Spanish origin - 32%, mestizos - 60%, Indians - 6%. Among other national groups, the most numerous come from Germany (1% of the total population), France (0.4%), and Italy. The capital of the state, Santiago, is home to about a third of the total population. The official language of Chile is Spanish. The territory has formed its own dialect of the Spanish language, characterized by the penetration of vernacular forms into the speech of almost all segments of the population. The indigenous Indian population retains its languages: in the north of the country there are about 20 thousand people who speak the Aymara language, in the south about 10 thousand speak the Mapuche language. Residents of the Polynesian islands, about 2 thousand, speak the Rapa Nui language.
Religion
About 90% of Chileans consider themselves Catholics. In recent decades, Protestant communities have begun to appear in Chile, among which the most active are evangelicals and Mormons.
Brief historical sketch
According to the treaty between Portugal and Spain, sealed by the verdict of the Pope, the lands of the New World were divided between the two countries, and the border ran along the meridian 370 km west of the Azores. Both open and undiscovered territories located west of this line were to belong to Spain, located east of Portugal. First of all, the Spaniards discovered the northern provinces of Chile. These were detachments of conquistadors moving from Peru. The Incas called the country south of their empire “chile mapu,” which means “cold country.” The Spaniards named the newly discovered territories New Toledo. Only centuries later the Indian name was assigned to the country. On November 1, 1520, an expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan reached Tierra del Fuego and the strait called the Strait of All Saints, later renamed the Strait of Magellan. Moving along the eastern shores of the continent, Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean in the summer of the following year. Thus, the southernmost lands of the modern state of Chile were discovered. Several decades passed before the development of the rest of Chile began: on the path of the Spaniards moving from the north lay the fabulously rich country of the Incas.
The conqueror Almagro arrived in Chile in 1536. Here the Spaniards founded the city of Aconcagua and began searching for gold. To the disappointment of the conquistadors, they did not find any gold. During the exploration, Commandant Juan de Saavedra discovered a bay called Valparaiso and founded a fort of the same name, which over time turned into a large Pacific port. A new expedition along the Chilean coast was undertaken in 1540 by Pedro de Valdivia. On February 12, 1541, he founded the city of Santiago. From the mid-60s of the 16th century. The Spaniards were increasingly gaining a foothold in Chile. But colonization proceeded at a slow pace due to geographical factors, Chile's isolation from the rest of the mainland and due to the stubborn resistance of the Araucana Indians, which lasted three centuries after the start of the conquest. In 1756, a university was founded in Santiago, where not only Chileans, but also residents of neighboring Argentina and Uruguay could study.
In 1818, troops under the leadership of Jose San Martin entered Santiago. The Argentine general appointed Bernardo O'Higgins as his first assistant, who soon became the first president of the independent republic of Chile. 1879-1883 years of the so-called Pacific War, during which the Chilean army managed to win a number of important victories over the armies of Peru and Bolivia. As a result, Chile was ceded rich in natural resources areas of the Atacama Desert. In 1890, the Chilean Republic experienced a civil war. Only after the Second World War, when more and more Europeans began to immigrate to Chile, progress was made in the social, political, and economic spheres of life. In the 1980s, a serious confrontation between left and right forces emerged in the political life of Chile. On September 11, 1973, the palace of President S. Allende was stormed by the army of A. Pinochet. The president died in Chile until the end of the 1980s. Political freedoms were restored and citizens again gained the right to elect the country's leadership. A relatively painless transition from a military dictatorship to a democratic form of government became possible, among other things, thanks to the rather successful economic policy of Pinochet's ministers. The government's consultants were experts from the University of Chicago. One of the government's merits is the creation of conditions favorable for investment. What has happened and is happening in Chile in recent decades is called an economic miracle.
Brief Economic Essay
Chile is one of the relatively economically developed countries in Latin America. Chile occupies one of the leading places in the extraction and export of copper, natural nitrate, and molybdenum. Iron ore, gold, silver, zinc, oil and natural gas, and coal are also mined. The food and light industries are the most developed; Mechanical engineering, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical, oil refining and petrochemical, pulp and paper and other industries are developing. The basis of agriculture is crop production (wheat, barley, legumes, corn, potatoes). Fruit growing and viticulture; oilseeds, sugar beets, hemp, tobacco. Pasture farming. Fishing and catching oysters, crabs, lobsters. Logging. Export of copper, iron ore, nitrate, iodine, paper, agricultural products, fishmeal.
The currency is the Chilean peso.
Brief sketch of culture
Art and architecture. Fine art of Chile until the 19th century. was influenced by the traditions of Catholic sculpture and iconography. Over the past two centuries, schools representing new directions in painting have taken shape in Santiago and other cities.
Santiago. Museum of Art of Pre-Columbian Chile (among the museum's exhibits are objects dating back to the 3rd millennium BC); Pablo Neruda Museum; the hill of Santa Lucia, which before the arrival of the Spaniards bore the Indian name Huelen (at the base of the hill lies a huge stone: an area of 20 hectares and a height of 80 m). Valparaiso. Regional Museum of Art, also known as Baburizza Palace; Maritime Museum (home to the first Chilean observatory and an interesting exhibition of ship models); Museum of the Fleet (most of the exhibition is dedicated to the events of the Pacific War; House-Museum of P. Neruda; the building of the National Congress; one of the most famous cable cars in Chile (built in 1883-1916). Vina del Mar. Archaeological Museum (finds made during expeditions to the Mapuche region (silver products) and the Pacific Islands); Museum of the Rioja Palace; Museum of Fine Arts (opened in 1908)
Literature. P. Neruda (1904-1973) - poet, Nobel Prize laureate, author of anti-fascist, civil lyrical and philosophical works (“Twenty poems about love and one song of despair”, “Odes to primordial things”, etc.)
Music. Among the musical genres, the most famous are the folk music of Chile, Indian and Spanish. Every February, an international music festival takes place in Quinta Vergara.
Brief information
Chile is a very diverse country where you can find every imaginable natural landscape, from the desert in the north to the glaciers in the south in Patagonia. In Chile, Spanish culture mixed with the customs and traditions of the local Mapuche Indians. Many tourists begin their acquaintance with this country from Montevideo, then go to Patagonia for a week, and then relax at some Chilean seaside resort.
Geography of Chile
Chile is located in the southwest of South America. In the north, Chile borders with Peru, and in the east with Bolivia and Argentina. In the west, the country is washed by the Pacific Ocean. Chile includes the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Easter Island, and the Juan Fernandez Archipelago. The total area, including the islands, is 756,950 square meters. km., and the total length of the state border is 2,010 km.
Geographically, Chile occupies a narrow coastal strip between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountain system. Most of the country's territory has mountainous terrain. Only a fifth are plains and lowlands. To the north is the Atamaca Desert. Towards the south towards Bio-Bio there are many tropical forests, lakes and lagoons.
The largest Chilean peaks are in the north and center of the country. These are the extinct volcanoes Llullaillaco (6,739 meters), Tres Cruces (6,749 meters), Cerro Tupungato (6,635 meters) and Ojos del Salado (6,893 meters). By the way, Ojos del Salado is considered the highest volcano in the world.
In the far south, where the Patagonian Andes are, the highest Chilean peaks are Torres del Paine and Mount Fitz Roy.
Capital of Chile
Santiago is the capital of Chile. More than 6 million people now live in this city. Santiago was founded by the Spaniards in 1541.
Official language of Chile
The official language is Spanish.
Religion
About 63% of the population are Catholics, about 15% are Protestants.
State structure
According to the 1981 Constitution, Chile is a presidential republic. The President is elected by popular vote for a 4-year term. The President is both the head of state and the head of government.
The bicameral local parliament is called the National Congress, it consists of the Senate (38 senators) and the Chamber of Deputies (120 deputies elected by popular vote for a term of 4 years).
The main political parties are the coalition of “left” and left-of-center parties “Concord of Parties for Democracy”, the coalition of “right” and right-of-center parties “Coalition for Change”.
Administratively, the country is divided into 14 regions and 1 capital district. The regions are in turn divided into 53 provinces and 346 communities.
Climate and weather
The climate in Chile is very diverse, it is decisively influenced by the cold Humboldt Current, which originates in the subantarctic waters off the Pacific coast. Thanks to this current and southwesterly winds, the climate in the central and northern regions of Chile is moderate (even in those areas that lie in tropical latitudes).
Since Chile is located in the southern hemisphere, summer there occurs in December, January and February, and winter in June, July and August.
Santiago has an ideal climate, which is why 80% of Chileans live in this city. Summers in Santiago are hot (+28-32C), and winters are short and moderate (the air temperature sometimes drops to 0C).
The best time to travel to Chile is from January to March.
Seas and oceans of Chile
In the west, Chile is washed by the Pacific Ocean. The length of the sea coast is 6,171 km. The Humboldt Current makes the waters off the coast of Chile cold, so outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy surfing and windsurfing should always wear wetsuits. Near the shore itself, the water temperature is warm and pleasant.
Rivers and lakes
There are many rivers in Chile, but they are not very long. The largest of them are Loa (440 km), Bio-Bio (380 km), Maipe (250 km) and Maule (240 km).
Culture
In many ways, Chile's culture is more European than South American, even though the country is located in South America. The reason for this phenomenon is immigrants. However, about 1 million local Indians live in Chile (mostly in the north of the country).
Like other Latin American countries, Chile celebrates a huge number of religious, cultural and folk holidays every year. In April, for example, the religious festival Fiesta de Quasimodo is celebrated, and in July another religious festival is Fiesta de la Tirana.
But, of course, holidays in this country are not limited to religious festivals. Every year in Chile there are many folk festivals (in Angola, in San Bernardo, in Yumbelna) and music festivals (Valdivia Classical Music Festival, Tongoy Jazz Festival, Semanhas de Frutillar Music Festival and Joranadas de Villarrica Music Festival) .
Cuisine of Chile
The Chilean forge was formed on the basis of the culinary traditions of local Indians and immigrants from Europe. The main food products are potatoes, corn, beans, fish, seafood, meat. For some tourists, Chilean dishes may resemble Peruvian cuisine. However, in fact, the Chilean forge is much richer than the Peruvian culinary traditions. Note that spicy dishes are not very common in Chile, unlike, for example, Mexico.
- Carbonada (meat soup with finely chopped beef and various vegetables);
- Arrollado de Chancho (pork in spicy sauce);
- Cazuela de Ave (chicken soup with potatoes, beans and rice);
- Costillar de Chancho (roasted pork);
- Curanto en Hoyo (a typical dish in southern Chile, fish, seafood with potatoes in a tortilla);
- Palta Reina (tuna or ham with avocado and mayonnaise);
- Parrillada (grilled various meats, served with potatoes or rice);
- Pollo Arvejado (chicken fillet with green peas, onions and carrots);
- Ceviche (sea bass in lemon juice);
- Arroz con Leche (rice pudding).
Traditional non-alcoholic drinks - fruit juices, tea, coffee.
Traditional alcoholic drinks are “Chicha” (sweet liqueur made from apples or grapes), “Pipeno” (sweet fermented wine), “Pisco” (brandy made from grapes), wine.
Attractions
The main Chilean attraction is nature, although, of course, the country has several dozen interesting historical and architectural monuments of Indians and Spanish conquistadors.
In any case, we definitely advise tourists in Chile to see the mysterious Easter Island, the El Tatio geysers, the Atacama Desert, the Lauca Biosphere Reserve, Lake Miscanti, the archaeological sites of the Mapuche Indians Copaquilla and Sapauira, the Parinacota volcano and Patagonia. In the south of the country in the city of Valdivia there is an ancient Spanish fortress built in the Middle Ages.
A significant part of Chile's territory is occupied by national parks and reserves. The most famous and popular of them are Puyehu National Park (107 thousand hectares), Lauca National Park (located in the east of the country), Villarrica National Park with Lake Carbugua, Chiloe National Park with relict coniferous and evergreen forests.
Cities and resorts
The largest cities are Santiago, Puente Alto, Antofagasta, San Bernardo, Viña del Mar, Temuco and Valparaiso.
Most of the most famous Chilean seaside resorts are located in the central part of the country.
Some of the best Chilean beaches include the following:
- La Virgen Beach 70 kilometers from Copiapo (infrastructure not developed)
- Anakena Beach, Easter Island (beach surrounded by coconut trees, turquoise water with soft sand)
- Bahía Inglesa Beach near Copiapó (well-developed infrastructure)
- Ovahe Beach, Easter Island (located at the base of a volcanic cliff)
- Las Tijeras, Dama Island (114 km northeast of Coquimbo)
Chile has several good, even by European standards, ski resorts. Among them, we highlight Valle Nevado, 60 km from Santiago at an altitude of 3025 m (more than 30 slopes and 40 lifts), Portillo, 145 km from Santiago at an altitude of 2880 m (a large number of slopes, 11 lifts, an outdoor swimming pool with heated water), ski complex Farellones - El Colorado - La Parva (more than 14 km of slopes and 17 lifts).
Souvenirs/shopping
Tourists in Chile buy handicrafts, jewelry (especially lapis lazuli), Greda (Chilean traditional pottery), small ceramic animal figurines, copper utensils, Emboque (a traditional Chilean game), small moai statues from Easter Island, football souvenirs, Chilean spices (for example, Merquén), wine.
Office hours
Banks:
Mon-Fri: 09:30-15:00
Stores:
Mon-Fri: 09:00-13:00 and 14:30-18:00
Visa
Ukrainians need a visa to travel to Chile.
