Volcán Hornopirén

About Chile

Chile is a narrow country, only 4.329 km wide. In the north, the Atacama Desert (Desierto de Atacama) is the driest in the world and has countless archeological treasures, followed by the fertile Central Valley (Valle Central) extending from the Andes cordillera to the cost. In greater Santiago is the economical and political heart of the country. At the south, the majestic Andes cordillera descends to the Pacific Ocean through the glaciers and canals to "Tierra del Fuego" in the "Estrecho de Magallanes".

Chile is also present in Antarctica with 1.250.000 km2, used by scientific investigation bases, reside a small village "Villa las Estrellas" for the civil population.

Geysers del Tatio

POPULATION

The population of Chile is not big but it had a significant increase in the last 150 years. According to the Census, in 1835 the population of Chile was of 1.010.336 inhabitants and according to preliminary data from the 2002 Census, the actual population is 15.050341 inhabitants, mostly from Hispanic origin, with great influence from Germany, France and Italy, which has created a very homogeneous and cosmopolitan population.

Geysers del Tatio

There are also some ethnic minorities concentrated in small rural areas, such as the "Aymarás" in the Altiplano (North of Chile), from Polynesian origin in the "Isla de Pascua" and the "Mapuches" concentrated around the city of Temuco (South of Chile).

Ventisquero Colgante en el Parque Nacional Queulat

TERRITORY

Chile, a tri-continental country, extends its territory in America, Antarctica and Oceania. It is located at the occidental and meridian part of South America, going all the way to Antarctica and to the Pascua Island in Polynesia.

Also part of the nacional territory is the Juan Fernández archipelago, the San Félix, San Ambrosio, Salas y Gómez Islands, the 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone and the corresponding continental platform. The total area of Chile is 2.006.096 km2.

Chile limits on the north with Perú at the Línea de la Concordia (Concordia Line); on the east with Argentina and Bolivia; on the south with the South Pole and on the west with the Pacific Ocean.

Ventisquero San Rafael

ECONOMIC SITUATION

During the 80s, only 5 countries in Latin America managed to grow - and one of them was Chile - and this is the reason why Chile is considered today as the most stable and safe country in South America for investments. The economic growth of Chile is based on the low inflation, giving more impact to exports, being the most important ones, fruits, fish, cellulose, wood, and metals. The biggest challenge of the current economy in Chile is to assure a constant growth and at the same time share the benefits of the profits with all, generating a better social system.

CLIMATE

The climate conditions in Chile change from north to south. In the North, from January to December it is hot and dry, almost without any rain. In the Central Region it is mild, but hot during December, January and February. June, July and August are cold but the valleys are always green because of the irrigation of the many rivers coming from the Andres cordillera. In the South, it is cold during winter and very nice during summer.