Republic of Chile República de Chile With 1,080 volcanoes, Chile has one out of every ten volcanoes in the world. For centuries, Chileans have used llamas to carry their goods. One of Chile s native animals is the pudu, the world's smallest deer. It averages about 15 inches (38 cm) tall. Also native to Chile, 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 Chile. Ruins of Inca roads and buildings still can be seen in Chile today. Kite flying is a favorite Chilean hobby. Chile s Easter Island is in the Pacific Ocean, far away from the Chilean coast. The island s strange ancient statues stand 30 feet (9 m) tall, but why and how they were built is a mystery. Two Chilean poets have won Nobel Prizes in literature. Flag White stands for the snow of the Andes, blue for the sky, and red for the blood of Chile s heroes. The star symbolizes progress. National Image The Chilean coat of arms pictures two animals: the huemul, a rare deer, and the condor, the world s largest bird of prey. Land and Climate Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the giant Andes Mountains, Chile is the longest and narrowest country on the planet. Chile runs more than half the length of the whole South American continent, but 221 miles (356 km) across is the widest it ever gets. It would take only a few hours to drive across Chile. Being so long, Chile 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 dry, 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 Chile 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 During the centuries when Chile 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 Chileans are either European or mestizo. Besides Spain, the ancestors of today s Chileans came from France, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Russia, Syria, Lebanon, and other countries. About 4 percent are indigenous. Chile has a current population of about 16.5 million people. More than 85 percent of Chileans live in urban areas. Language Spanish is the official national language of Chile, and almost everybody speaks it. But the Spanish that people speak in Chile is a little different than the Spanish spoken in other countries. Chileans call it Castellano. Chileans like to add little word endings like -ito, which means small and is used affectionately. For example, Chileans can change the boy s name Carlos into little Carlos by saying Carlitos. Chao means good-bye, but Chaoito is an affectionate good-bye. 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 Chileans are Christian. About 70 percent of the population belongs to the Roman
Catholic Church, and others belong to a variety of Protestant churches. The country recognizes a separation of church and state, and religious freedom is guaranteed. Time Line AD 1400 Around AD 1450 Incas come into contact with the tribes in northern Chile 1500 1520 The Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan becomes the first European to see Chile 1536 Diego de Almagro claims Chile for the Spanish Empire Pedro de Valdivia begins the Spanish invasion of 1541 Chile 1800 1810 Chile begins fighting for independence from Spain 1817 1818 Chilean and Argentine forces invade Chile by crossing the Andes Mountains Chile becomes independent; Bernardo O Higgins is its first president
1823 Chile makes slavery illegal 1879 The War of the Pacific (involving Chile, Bolivia, and Peru) begins 1891 Civil war begins 1900 1925 A new constitution allows Chileans to join labor unions 1970 Marxist Salvador Allende becomes president 1973 1988 General Augusto Pinochet overthrows Allende s government Pinochet allows a vote to decide if he should continue in power 1990 Patricio Aylwin takes office as the first elected president since 1970 2000 2000 Ricardo Lagos becomes president 2004 President Lagos signs a bill giving Chileans the right to divorce, despite disapproval from the Roman Catholic Church
2006 Michelle Bachelet becomes Chile s first female president PRESENT Overseas Invasion Native tribes such as the Mapuche and Atacameño farmed and hunted for centuries in Chile. 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 controlled most of the area. Revolution and Independence As the Spaniards married indigenous (native) people, a new group of Chileans developed. These people had never been to Spain and felt no loyalty to it. In 1810, the Chileans 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 Chileans joined their troops with those in Argentina and quickly defeated the Spanish. Bernardo O Higgins, one of the revolution s heroes, became the first leader of the new nation. War of the Pacific Disagreements over land in the Atacama Desert began between Chile and its neighbors, Peru and Bolivia. The desert contains rich fields of nitrate, a valuable mineral used in fertilizer. In 1879, Chile declared war against these nations and defeated them five years later. With their victory, Chileans gained the nitrate fields and significantly increased the size of their country. General Pinochet s Rule
For most of Chile s history, the people have chosen the government. But in 1973, one of Chile 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 Chileans 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 Chileans to decide if he should continue in power. They said no, and Chileans restored their democracy (government by the people). Games and Sports Like people throughout South America, Chileans 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 increasingly popular. Some Chileans ski in the snowy Andes Mountains, but since skiing is expensive, only the wealthy get to do it. However, nearly every Chilean enjoys going to the beach to swim or fish. Holidays Chileans love to celebrate their Independence Day, 18 September. This was the day in 1810 that Chileans began working toward independence from Spain. Today, they celebrate the holiday by eating and drinking. The next day, 19 September, is Armed Forces Day, and Chileans hold parades, go to rodeos, and perform the cueca, the national folk dance. Food Chileans 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 Chilean celebration, you usually will find plenty of these tasty pastries. Schools
Chileans 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 Chile, most kids take public transportation. Chilean 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, Chile has many universities. Life as a Kid Life can be very different in different parts of Chile. Some kids live in remote villages or on farms, but half of all Chilean 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 President: Michelle Bachelet Like the United States, Chile is a democracy, which means that Chile s people decide who will run the country. The person who makes the most important decisions is the president. The Chilean legislature has two parts: the 38-member Senate and the 120-member Chamber of Deputies. The voting age is 18. All eligible citizens are required by law to vote. Chile is divided into 15 regions. Money and Economy Agriculture, or farming, is one of the most important parts of the Chilean economy. Chile 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 Chile recently. Chile 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 Chilean 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. With so many islands in the south, sometimes the only way to get from one place to another is by boat. Rodeos The people of Chile 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. Rodeos in Chile are a little different than rodeos in North America. Two riders 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. The riders wear the traditional clothing of flat hats, brightly colored ponchos, and boots with spurs. Learn More Contact the Embassy of Chile, 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone (202) 785-1746; web site www.chile-usa.org. 2009 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. It is against the law to copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by any means without written permission from ProQuest.
P A C I F I C O C E A N Country Detail Map Chile PERU Arica BOLIVIA Antofagasta Nevado Ojos del Salado Copiapó The Andes Mountains are one of the world's longest mountain ranges. Coquimbo Santiago Puerto Montt A N D E S M O U N T A I N S ARGENTINA The world's driest desert is the Atacama. Nevado Ojos del Salado in the Andes Mountains is Chile's highest point, at 22,566 feet (6,878 m). Because it shortens the journey, the Strait of Magellan is an important passage for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Punta Arenas STRAIT OF MAGELLAN C A P E H O R N 2007 ProQuest-CSA LLC and Brigham Young University.