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Chile
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infoGeneral informationkeyboard_arrow_up
- Country common name: Chile
- Country official name: Republic of Chile (Republica de Chile)
- Continent: South America
- 3-Letter abbreviation: CHI
- 2-Letter abbreviation: CL
- Capital: Santiago
- Major cities: 6.767 million SANTIAGO (capital), 984,000 Valparaiso, 881,000 Concepcion
- Currency: Chilean peso (click for current conversion rates)
- Languages: Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2%
- Motto: "By Reason or Force"
- National holiday(s): Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
flagGovernmentkeyboard_arrow_up- Chief of state: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and
- Head of government: ad of government: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022)
- Government type: presidential republic
insert_photoCountry notes & photographskeyboard_arrow_up{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Chile"},{"insert":" is a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"long narrow country"},{"insert":" which extends like a ribbon down the west coast of South America. While the coastline is over"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" 4,000 miles"},{"insert":" (6,437 kilometers) long, it is only about "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"61 miles"},{"insert":" (91 kilometers) wide. The country has suffered from many earthquakes, such as the massive 8.8-magnitude quake that struck the country in February 2010. Cape Horn is the southernmost tip of South America. In the past, ships had to round the horn to sail from Pacific to Atlantic ports and to Europe before the Panama Canal was built. Cape Horn is known for high winds and treacherous waves.\n\nThe region is rich in"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" natural beauty"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"plant "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"animal life"},{"insert":". The long coastline is home to penguins, pelicans, and sea lions, and migratory whales can be seen in the waters as they journey to and from feeding and breeding grounds. Puma, alpacas, vicunas, foxes, condors, and flamingos are all found on the diverse landscapes of Chile. The Atacama Desert is one of the driest areas on the Earth. There are many species of reptiles and cacti. The country's rich supply of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"copper "},{"insert":"is also found in the desert region. Also, Chile is one of the largest exporters of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"grapes"},{"insert":".\n\nPrior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians (also known as Mapuches) inhabited central and southern Chile; The latter were not completely subjugated by Spain until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1810"},{"insert":", decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. A three-year-old Marxist government of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Salvador Allende"},{"insert":" was overthrown in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1973 "},{"insert":"by a military coup led by "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Augusto Pinochet"},{"insert":", who ruled until a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"freely elected presiden"},{"insert":"t was installed in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1990"},{"insert":". Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"regional and international leadership"},{"insert":" roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.\n\nToday only about 5 percent of the population is native Mapuche and other indigenous groups. Nearly 95 percent of Chileans have a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"mixture of native and European roots"},{"insert":". There are areas in the south where the Mapuche live, speak their language, and practice their own religion. About 40 percent of the population lives in the area around the capital of Santiago. Children in rural areas need to wake up at 5:00 - 6:00 a.m. to walk to school or meet the bus. Their journeys sometimes take two hours each way. After school, they help their parents in the fields and do their homework.\n"}]}terrainGeographic informationkeyboard_arrow_up- Surface area (in km²): 756,102
- Highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m
- Neighboring countries: Argentina 6691 km, Bolivia 942 km, Peru 168 km
- Neighboring seas and oceans: Pacific Ocean
- Climate: temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
radioRadio stationskeyboard_arrow_upsupervised_user_circlePopulationkeyboard_arrow_up- Population: 18,186,770
- Population density (inhabitants per km²): 24.1
- Average age (in years): 35.5
- Life expectancy at birth (in years): 79.4
- Ethnicity: white and non-indigenous 88.9%, Mapuche 9.1%, Aymara 0.7%, other indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3%
- Gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant (in US dollars): 24,600
- Cultural practices: Giving scissors or knives indicates a desire to sever a relationship.
local_diningPopular food & drinkskeyboard_arrow_up{"ops":[{"insert":"As "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Chile's take on the hot dog"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"completos "},{"insert":"are surprisingly one of the"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" most beloved Chilean foods"},{"insert":", sold in sandwich shops and stands throughout the country. A typical "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"completo"},{"insert":" is served with sausage, chopped tomato, mayonnaise and sauerkraut. The "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"completo Italiano"},{"insert":" is also quite popular, and comes with chopped tomatoes, mashed avocado and mayonnaise. The hot dog gets its name from the the combination of "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"red"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"green "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"white "},{"insert":"ingredients used, which mimic the colors on the"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" Italian flag"},{"insert":".\n"}]}
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://cyberspace23.com/recipe-display.php?id=1"},"insert":"Barbecued Chilean sea bass"},{"insert":" is a popular fish dish in Chile, with a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"smooth "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"rich feel "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"taste"},{"insert":". Much of its unique (delicious) flavor is due to its high levels of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"omega-3 fatty acids"},{"insert":". They contribute to the pleasant taste, but also provide health benefits, aiding eye health and elasticity of coronary arteries. The Chilean sea bass is a good source of high-quality"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" proteins"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"vitamin D"},{"insert":". It is a popular delicacy in other countries, too. However, it is often a hard find due to limited quantities on the market. \n"}]}
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Kuchen"},{"insert":" is a Chilean "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"traditional cake"},{"insert":" introduced by "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"German migrants "},{"insert":"who"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"settled southern Chile in the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1850s"},{"insert":". Kuchen in Chile would often have fruits, such as apples, strawberries or murtas. Non-traditional Chilean kuchen with walnuts are sometimes offered. Kuchen are found in many Chilean bakeries and in many of the larger supermarkets.\n"}]}
local_post_officePostage stampskeyboard_arrow_up{"ops":[{"insert":"Chile has produced stamps for national use since "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1853"},{"insert":". The first stamps of Chile were inscribed "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Colon Chile"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"Colon refers to Christopher Columbus, whose name is transcribed "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Cristobal Colon"},{"insert":" in Spanish."},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"On 14 June 1852, Messrs. Lyon Brothers, agents for the Chilean government, sent a letter from Valparaiso to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Perkins, Bacon & Co"},{"insert":". in London, England, on behalf of the Chilean government. The letter contained an order for printing postage labels (stamps). A second printing was ordered in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1854 "},{"insert":"and a third printing in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1859"},{"insert":". These stamps helped to establish the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Chilean postal authority"},{"insert":".\n"}]}
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"2019"},{"insert":" was the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Year of the Indigenous Languages,"},{"insert":" marked by a commemorative stamp. There are "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"six "},{"insert":"indigenous languages in Chile, but of those people who claim to be a part of one of the indigenous populations, only "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"20%"},{"insert":" speak their native tongue. Year 2019 celebrated the languages that are unique to this country and helped preserve them. It was the result of a broader push from the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"United Nations"},{"insert":" to honor and preserve indigenous languages and cultures from around the world. These cultures are a part of history that is quickly diminishing, but it is important to conserve and protect them. One of these languages is the language of the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mapuche people: Mapuzungun"},{"insert":". Mapuzungun is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Araucanian language"},{"insert":", originating in the Andes mountains of Chile and Argentina. Current censuses estimate that it is spoken by roughly "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"250,000"},{"insert":" indigenous people in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Chile "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Argentina."},{"insert":"\n"}]}
{"ops":[{"insert":"In "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"2020"},{"insert":" Chile celebrated the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"500th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Straits of Magellan"},{"insert":". "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Chile Post"},{"insert":" released commemorative stamps to mark the occasion. The "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"first circumnavigation of the world"},{"insert":" was unwittingly initiated by "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ferdinand Magellan"},{"insert":", who died in 1521. In the course of his expedition on behalf of the Kingdom of Spain, Magellan, on October 21, 1520, discovered a cape, when attempting to get around the American land mass, and reach what is now known as the Pacific Ocean. His fleet sailed between the southern tip of the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"South American continent"},{"insert":" and the island of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tierra del Fuego"},{"insert":", into a labyrinth of waterways, losing one ship on the way while another ship took advantage of the confusion and fled back to Spain. But Magellan had found the longed-for passage in these storm-battered waters, later named the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Straits of Magellan"},{"insert":". It took the decimated armada six weeks to reach the Pacific Ocean.\n"}]}
{"ops":[{"insert":"Above is the Chilean "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"2020 Christmas stamp"},{"insert":". In Chile, Christians like to decorate their houses with Christmas trees and lights. Nativity Scenes are also an important decoration. They have little clay figures (called "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"'pesebre'"},{"insert":") in them. Many Catholics in Chile celebrate "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Advent"},{"insert":" and also go to special church services for nine days before Christmas. These services are known as a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Novena"},{"insert":". "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Christmas Eve"},{"insert":" is the most important day over Christmas. Families and friends gather together for a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"big meal "},{"insert":"in the evening, eaten about 9 pm or 10 pm. Many people like to have '"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"asado"},{"insert":"' (barbecue) and chicken, turkey and pork. The Chilean Christmas Cake is ‘"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Pan de Pascua"},{"insert":"’ which is quite like Panettone. A popular Christmas drink is '"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Cola de Mono'"},{"insert":" (monkey's tail), which is made from coffee, milk, liquor, cinnamon and sugar. After the meal, some people like to go to a church service.\n"}]}
tap_and_playTelephone & Internet communicationkeyboard_arrow_up- Country international telephone code: +56
- Local emergency telephone number(s): Ambulance: 131; Fire: 132; Police 132
- Internet code: .cl
- Number of Internet users: 13,650,840
- Percentage of Internet-connected population: 75.1%
gradeAlso useful to knowkeyboard_arrow_up- Vaccinations: For recommendations please refer to the World Health Organization (WHO), or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) websites.
- Potable/drinkable water: Opt for bottled water.
- International driving permit: Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Chile, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA
- Road driving side: Right
-
Electricity/Voltage/Plug type(s):
220 V / 50 Hz / plug type(s): C, L
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