Chile. CultureGrams. República de Chile. Republic of. Flag. National Image. Kids Edition

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1 Kids Edition Republic of 2014 República de With 1,080 volcanoes, has one out of every ten volcanoes in the world. For centuries, ans have used llamas to carry their goods. One of s native animals is the pudu, the world's smallest deer. It averages about 15 inches (38 cm) tall. Also native to, the rhea is a huge flightless bird similar to the ostrich. About five hundred years ago, the ancient Inca Empire of Peru began spreading south into. Ruins of Inca roads and buildings still can be seen in today. Kite flying is a favorite an hobby. s Easter Island is in the Pacific Ocean, far away from the an coast. The island s strange ancient statues stand taller than 30 feet (9 m), but why and how they were built is a mystery. Two an poets have won Nobel Prizes in literature. Alexander Selkirk, the real-life inspiration behind the fictional character Robinson Crusoe, was stranded on an island off the coast of for nearly five years. is only 236 miles (380 km) wide at its widest point. Some farmers in northern use plastic nets on long poles to capture fog, which turns into water droplets and is used to water their tomato plants. The world s largest open-pit copper mine, Chuquicamata, can be found in s Atacama Desert. Because of s coastal location, ans eat much more fish than meat. s name probably comes from the Indian word chilli, which means where the land runs out. Flag White stands for the snow of the Andes, blue for the sky, and red for the blood of s heroes. The star symbolizes progress and governmental power. National Image The an coat of arms pictures two animals: the huemul, a rare deer also known as the South Andean Deer, and the condor, the world s largest bird of prey. 1

2 Land and Climate Area (sq. mi.): 291,933 Area (sq. km.): 756,102 Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean on the west and the giant Andes Mountains in the east, is the longest and narrowest country on the planet. With an area of 291,933 square miles (756,102 sq km), is just smaller than Turkey, or twice the size of the state of Montana. runs more than half the length of the whole South American continent, but 236 miles (380 km) across is the widest it ever gets. It would take only a few hours to drive across from east to west. Being so long, has many different landscapes: dry desert in the north, mountains and rich farmland in the center, and islands and glaciers in the south. The weather is also very different depending on where you are. The north is warm and home to one of the driest deserts in the world. The central part of the country is mild, and the south is cold and rainy. Average annual precipitation ranges from 0.04 inches (0.10 cm) in the north to 119 inches (302 cm) in the south. Because lies in the Southern Hemisphere (the part of the earth that is south of the equator), its seasons are opposite those in North America: summer is between December and March. Population Population: 17,216,945 During the centuries when belonged to Spain, thousands of Spaniards went to live there. Many Spaniards married native inhabitants (also called indigenous people). People of a mixed European and indigenous background are known as mestizo. Today, about 95 percent of ans are either European or mestizo. Besides Spain, the ancestors of today s ans came from France, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Russia, Syria, Lebanon, and other countries. About 4 percent are indigenous. The largest group of indigenous people are the Mapuche, or people of the land, who number about 400,000. People living on Easter Island are mostly of Polynesian descent and known as Pascuenses (Pascua is the Spanish word for Easter ). has a current population of about 17 million people. More than 85 percent of ans live in cities. continues to attract immigrants from neighboring countries who are looking for better economic and political conditions. There are also approximately 800,000 ans living outside of. Language Spanish is the official national language of, and almost everybody speaks it. But the Spanish that people speak in is a little different than the Spanish spoken in other countries. ans call it Castellano. ans like to add little word endings like -ito, which means small and is used affectionately. For example, ans can change the boy s name Carlos into little Carlos by saying Carlitos. Chao means good-bye, but Chaoito is an affectionate good-bye. 2

3 Can You Say It in Spanish? Hello Hola (OH-la) Good-bye Chao (chow) Please Por favor (POHR fa-vohr) Thank you Gracias (GRAH-see-ahs) Yes Sí (see) No No (noh) Religion Most ans are Christian. About 70 percent of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, and others belong to a variety of Protestant churches. A small percentage of ans are Jews or Muslims, and a few follow no religion at all. The country recognizes a separation of church and state, and religious freedom is guaranteed, although a celebration of Mass is often a part of many public events. Time Line AD 1400 Around AD 1450 Incas come into contact with the tribes in northern The Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan becomes the first European to see 3

4 1536 Diego de Almagro claims for the Spanish Empire 1541 Pedro de Valdivia begins the Spanish invasion of begins fighting for independence from Spain 1817 an and Argentine forces invade by crossing the Andes Mountains 1818 becomes independent; Bernardo O Higgins is its first president 1823 makes slavery illegal; seven years of very difficult economic and political conditions begins 1833 A new constitution is created 1879 The War of the Pacific (involving, Bolivia, and Peru) begins; gains control of the Atacama Desert 1891 Civil war begins A new constitution allows ans to join labor unions and creates a separation between church and state 1948 The Communist Party is banned (until 1958) 1970 Marxist Salvador Allende is elected president 1973 General Augusto Pinochet overthrows Allende s government; many an citizens are tortured and killed during his presidency 1980 A new constitution makes the military government legal 1988 Pinochet allows and loses a vote to decide if he should continue in power 4

5 1990 Patricio Aylwin takes office as the first elected president since Ricardo Lagos becomes president 2001 General Pinochet is declared too ill to stand trial for kidnapping and murder charges 2004 President Lagos signs a bill giving ans the right to divorce, despite disapproval from the Roman Catholic Church 2006 Michelle Bachelet becomes s first female president; General Pinochet dies 2010 A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake strikes central, killing hundreds and causing widespread damage; 33 miners trapped deep underground for 69 days are winched to safety, watched by TV viewers around the world 2011 Hundreds of thousands of high school and college students take to the streets to raise awareness and increase funding for all levels of education PRESENT Early Defenders The first known group of inhabitants in the area we now call were called Araucanians (which includes the Mapuche tribe) by the Spaniards who first met them. These Native Americans lived in the southern part of and successfully defended their lands against many attacks by the powerful Inca Empire from the north. Later, the Araucanians fought against the Spaniards, protecting their land in the south from Spanish conquest until well into the 19th century. These first inhabitants of are remembered today as brave heroes and courageous warriors. 5

6 Spanish Invasion Native tribes such as the Mapuche and Atacameño farmed and hunted for centuries in. Then, about five hundred years ago, explorers from Europe began arriving in their sailing ships. Most were Spanish, and these conquistadors (conquerors) claimed the land for Spain. Although some of the local groups fought against the Spanish, it wasn t long before the powerful Spanish used superior weapons and horses to gain control over much of the area. In addition, new diseases arrived with the Spanish and destroyed many of the native inhabitants. With the exception of the land held by Mapuche in the south, Spain dominated and continued to rule for the next three hundred years. Revolution and Independence As the Spaniards married indigenous (native) people, a new group of ans developed. These people had never been to Spain and felt no loyalty to it. In 1810, the ans told the Spanish that they no longer wanted to be ruled by a country so far away. But the Spanish didn t want to give up control of their colony. After years of war, the ans joined their troops with those of José de San Martín in Argentina and quickly defeated the Spanish in a battle near the capital Santiago. Bernardo O Higgins, son of a an mother and Irish father, and one of the revolution s heroes, became the first leader of the new nation. War of the Pacific Disagreements over who had rights to land in the Atacama Desert in northern began between and its neighbors, Peru and Bolivia. The desert contains rich fields of sodium nitrate, a valuable mineral used in fertilizer and explosives. In 1879, declared war against these nations and defeated them five years later. With their victory, ans gained the nitrate fields and significantly increased the size of their country. Bolivia lost its only access to the Pacific Ocean, and Peru gave up territory as well. Some anger still remains among these three neighboring countries over the outcome of the war. Easter Island In 1888, annexed (made it a part of ) Easter Island, located about 2,300 miles off the an coast. The island was first discovered and named by Dutch sailors, who arrived on Easter in Dutch Admiral Jacob Roggeveen was surprised to find hundreds of giant stone statues scattered around the island. Some of these giant carved heads, called moai, are more than 20 feet high and weigh several tons. No one has yet been able to explain how the statues were made or how they were moved around the island. Modern scientific studies have suggested that the barren island was once covered in trees, which the ancient inhabitants used to build a track upon which the moai were transported to their current locations. Today, Easter Island depends mostly on tourism as thousands of visitors make the trip every year to see these mysterious creations and wonder how they came to be. General Pinochet's Rule For most of s history, the people have chosen the government. But in 1973, one of s generals, Augusto Pinochet, came to power by overthrowing the elected president, who had left the economy in ruins. Although Pinochet helped build a better economy, thousands of ans who disagreed with him were jailed or killed. Because their families did not know what had happened to them, these people were called the disappeared. In 1988, Pinochet finally allowed ans to decide if he should continue in power. They said no, and ans restored their democracy (government by the people). Pinochet was made a senator but was later arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder. He became ill and died before his trial took place. 6

7 Games and Sports Like people throughout South America, ans love to play soccer, which they call fútbol. Kids play on both school and soccer club teams. Thousands of people go to professional matches. Tennis is becoming increasingly popular. Some ans ski in the snowy Andes Mountains, but since skiing is expensive, only the wealthy get to do it. Many ans enjoy the ancient Mapuche game of chueca, which is a lot like hockey but played on a field rather than a skating rink. Children also enjoy traditional activities like hula hoop and hopscotch. Nearly every an enjoys going to the beach to swim or fish. Holidays ans love to celebrate their Independence Day, 18 September. This was the day in 1810 that ans began working toward independence from Spain. Today, they celebrate the holiday by reenacting important events, eating, drinking, and dancing. The next day, 19 September, is Armed Forces Day, and ans hold parades, go to rodeos, and perform the cueca, which has been the national folk dance since The Fiesta de San Pedro (Celebration of Saint Peter) is celebrated on 29 June in many small towns and villages along the coast in honor of the apostle Peter, who is remembered as a great fisherman. In La Tirana on 16 July, thousands of believers arrive to celebrate La Virgen del Carmen (The Virgin of Carmen), s patron saint. Easter is an important holiday and is a time for families to spend time together. On the Sunday following Easter, ans celebrate the Domingo de Cuasimodo (Sunday of Quasimoto) by decorating their homes, wearing costumes, and riding horses and bicycles in parades. Food ans make many delicious foods, and one of the most popular is called empanadas de horno. It s a turnover pastry filled with beef, hard-boiled eggs, onions, olives, and raisins. Sometimes people fill them with fish or other meats instead of beef. If you go to a an celebration, you usually will find plenty of these tasty pastries. Because nearly every town and city in is relatively close to the ocean, fresh seafood is also very popular. One popular seafood dish is called congrio and is made with tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and conger eel, which is actually a kind of boneless fish. ans also love to share an asado, which is done with large pieces of meat cooked all day long on an outdoor grill. Schools Adult Literacy: 95.7% ans take education very seriously. All kids between the ages of five and seventeen have to go to school. They go to public schools, which are free, or to private or religious schools. Because there are few school buses in, most kids take public transportation. an kids study many of the same subjects you do. After eight years of elementary school, kids advance to a four-year secondary or vocational school. For those who want to get a higher education, has many universities, both public and private. Ninety-six percent of ans can read and write. It is harder for children in rural (countryside) areas to get to school because transportation is limited. 7

8 Life as a Kid Life can be very different in different parts of. Some kids live in remote villages or on farms, but half of all an children live in the Santiago area. Most kids there live in middle-class suburbs, but there are also slums where families can only afford to live in shacks. Wherever they live, children put on uniforms and go to school every weekday. At recess and after school, kids play sports or their favorite games, such as bolitas (marbles), checkers, or luche (hopscotch). Government Capital: Santiago Head of State: Pres. Sebastián Piñera Head of Government: Pres. Sebastián Piñera is a democracy, which means that s people decide who will run the country. The person who makes the most important decisions is the president. The an legislature (lawmaking body) has two parts: the 38-member Senate and the 120-member Chamber of Deputies. The voting age is 18. All eligible citizens are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18, but voting is voluntary. is divided into 15 regions. Money and Economy Currency: an peso s economy is one of the strongest in South America. In they say Copper is king because is the world s largest producer of copper. Agriculture, or farming, is another important part of the an economy. sends its fruits, such as grapes, apples, nectarines, and peaches, to more than 40 countries around the world. In fact, you probably have eaten a piece of fruit from recently. Its long coastline and narrow shape have made a world leader in the production of salmon and fishmeal (which is used as food for fish and other seafood raised in farms). has signed trade agreements with the United States, the European Union, South Korea, China, and other countries so that more of its industries can sell goods to them. The currency is the an peso. Getting Around Santiago is a huge city with a lot of traffic, so traveling can be difficult. There are so many cars that many people take the subway or the bus. In the countryside, people use buses, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles. A paved highway runs nearly 2,000 miles from near the northern tip of to Puerto Montt in the south. From there, an unpaved road runs south over 600 miles to Punta Arenas, where many fjords (water-filled valleys formed by glaciers) and islands make roads difficult to build. The only way to get from one place to another is by boat. 8

9 Rodeos The people of held their first rodeo (or la fiesta huasa) more than four hundred years ago, and they have loved them ever since. Huge crowds go to watch them. In fact, it is common for spectators at rodeos to outnumber those at soccer matches. Rodeos in are a little different than rodeos in North America. They are held in an area called a medialuna (half moon), which is shaped like its name suggests. Two riders (huasos) on horseback try to corner a bull against a certain spot on the edge of the rodeo ring. The winning team is the one that can corner the bull the best and the fastest. Higher points are awarded if the riders pin the bull s rear against the wall, rather than its middle or head. Rodeo horses are highly trained to respond to the slightest touch or command from the cowboy. The riders wear the traditional clothing of flat hats, brightly colored ponchos, and boots with spurs. Rodeos are always accompanied by people playing guitars and accordions and singing traditional folksongs. Learn More Contact the Embassy of, 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone (202) ; web site Or visit the official government web site ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. It is against the law to copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by any means without strict written permission from ProQuest. 9 ProQuest 789 East Eisenhower Parkway Ann Arbor, Michigan USA Toll Free: Fax:

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