Chili message. The capital of Chile and other secrets of this wonderful country
State in southwestern South America. The territory of Chile stretches along the coast Pacific Ocean from north to south for 4300 km. Two mountain systems stretch across the entire country. In the east are the Andes, in the west along the coast are the coastal Cordilleras. Chile borders Peru in the north, Bolivia and Argentina in the east, and is washed by the Pacific Ocean in the south and west. Chile also owns the island of Tierra del Fuego, Easter Island ( Rapa Nui) and the Juan Fernandez Archipelago.
The name of the country in the language of the local Arawak Indians means “cold, winter.”
Official name: Republic of Chile
Capital: Santiago
Territory area: 756.9 thousand sq. km
Total Population: 16.8 million people
Administrative division: The state is divided into 12 regions.
Form of government: Republic.
Head of State: President.
Population composition: 68% are Creoles, 30% are Europeans (Spaniards, Italians, Germans, French, Basques, Irish, Croats, Yugoslavs and Russians), 2% are Indians (Araucanians and Aymaras). Easter Island is inhabited by Rapanui people.
State language: Spanish. English, German, Aymara, Araucana, Mapuche and the languages of other ethnic groups are used.
Religion: 89% are Catholics, 11% are Protestants.
Internet domain: .cl
Mains voltage: ~220 V, 50 Hz
Country dialing code: +56
Country barcode: 780
Climate
The country's climate is extremely diverse, which is explained by its large extent from north to south, the abundance of powerful coastal currents and the influence of the Andes mountain system.
In the north of the country, a tropical desert type of climate predominates. Average monthly temperatures here range from +12 C in winter (May-August) to +22 C in summer (December-March), with a maximum of +38 C in the region. Precipitation is no more than 50 mm. per year, and in some areas of Atacama there is no rain at all.
Somewhat further south, the climate changes to subtropical, with summer temperatures ranging from +22-24, winter - +12-18 C and precipitation falling mainly in winter (up to 1000 mm). The same climatic regime is also observed on Easter and Juan Fernandez Islands.
Middle Chile. This area is characterized by mild winters and dry, warm summers. In Concepción, 760 mm of precipitation falls annually, mainly in the form of winter showers that accompany the intrusion of humid masses of Antarctic air. The northern annual precipitation rate drops to 360 mm in Santiago and 100 mm in Coquimbo, with rain occurring exclusively in winter.
Geography
Republic of Chile, a state located on southwest coast South America between the Andes mountain ranges and the Pacific Ocean. The length of Chile from the city of Arica in the north to Cape Horn in the south is 4025 km, area - 756.6 thousand square meters. km, while the width of its territory nowhere exceeds 360 km.
The mainland of Chile borders Peru in the north, is washed by the Pacific Ocean in the west and south, and Bolivia and Argentina are located in the east behind the Andes ridges. Through the Strait of Magellan, Chile has access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Chile also owns several small islands in the Pacific Ocean: Easter Island, the islands of Sala y Gomez, San Felix, San Ambrosio, the Juan Fernandez group of islands, as well as the Diego Ramirez islands 100 km southwest of Cape Horn .
Flora and fauna
Flora
The local flora is of particular interest. It varies depending on the climate zone. In the north, cacti and thorns predominate - this is one of the striking examples of absolute desert. The central valley is home to several species of cacti and Chilean pine. To the south of Valdivia there is a jungle where laurel, magnolia, beech and several types of coniferous trees grow. In the far south there are grassy steppes.
There is practically no vegetation in the Atacama Desert. Ephemeral grasses and resinous perennials are sometimes found, and feather grass grows at higher elevations.
In the coastal areas of central Chile, xerophytic vegetation, shrubs and turf grasses dominate; to the south, in conditions of greater moisture, a deciduous forest of southern beech, conifers and laurel trees grows. There are alpine deserts in the mountains, and the Longitudinal Valley is occupied by arable land and gardens.
In the Strait of Magellan zone and on the island of Tierra del Fuego, ferns, mosses and dwarf trees predominate.
Animal world
The fauna is not as rich as in other countries of the continent, since the Andes, being a natural barrier, prevent the migration of animals. The most common are llama, alpaca, vicuna, puma, guanaco, wolf, two types of deer, and chinchilla. The birds are quite widely represented, but the largest ones, typical of other South American countries, are absent.
Here you can go diving or water skiing, but avid fishermen will be extremely disappointed: apart from the trout brought to Chile, there are almost no freshwater fish in the rivers and lakes.
Attractions
Chile is one of the most interesting countries in the world. Thousands of years of history, beautiful landscapes, majestic mountains and pristine mountain areas, stunning diversity natural complexes, colorful local population and a rapidly developing economy - these are the main arguments when choosing this country as a place to visit.
The most popular attractions of Chile are Lake Chungara, the Parinacota volcano, the Atacama Desert, the geysers of El Tatio, Lake Miscanti, the granite “towers” of Torres del Paine, the archaeological sites of Copacilla and Zapauira, the mysterious, as well as Patagonia - the southernmost region of the American continent, well known far beyond the country's borders.
Banks and currency
The monetary unit of Chile is the Chilean peso. 1 Chilean peso is equal to 100 centavos. There are bills in circulation in denominations of 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000 pesos and coins of 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 pesos.
Banks are open on weekdays from 09:00 to 14:00, and exchange offices are open until 19:00 daily.
IN large stores, restaurants and hotels major tourist centers You can pay with credit cards. Traveler's checks are best purchased in US dollars; they can be exchanged at banks or exchange offices.
Useful information for tourists
You can bargain at markets and private shops.
Main beach resort Chile - Viña del Mar - is located just 10 km north of Valparaiso and is usually referred to as the "Garden City" due to its subtropical landscape, palms and banana trees. Horse-drawn carriages travel between attractive mansions from the last century, the beach and the riverbank.
Other temptations - the shores of the pure white sand, numerous parks and excellent museums housed in restored colonial mansions. The National Botanical Garden of Chile is also located here, displaying many hundreds of species of local and exotic plants on its 61 hectares.
Tips are 10% of the bill and are often already included in the total. Taxi drivers do not require tips, but it is advisable to round up the fare for convenience.
Useful information for tourists about Chile, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Chile, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions of Chile.
Geography of Chile
The Republic of Chile is a state in southwestern South America, occupying a long strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes. In the west it is washed by the Pacific Ocean and borders Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia.
The country includes the Easter Islands (Rapa Nui, 3,700 km west of the country’s coast), Juan Fernandez (700 km to the west), a vast archipelago and part of the island of Tierra del Fuego itself in the southern part of the country, as well as many smaller islands .
Chile is divided into three regions, sharply different from each other in climate and topography: Northern Desert (Atacama desert region), Central Chile (highlands of the Andes) and Southern Chile (hilly zone of dense forests in the foothills of the Southern Andes and a labyrinth of narrow straits and mountainous islands in the extreme south).
State
State structure
Republic. The head of state and government is the president. The highest legislative body is the bicameral National Congress.
Language
Official language: Spanish
English, German, Aymara, Araucana, Mapuche and the languages of other ethnic groups are used.
Religion
Catholics - about 80%, Protestants - 13%, as well as adherents of other faiths.
Currency
International name: CLP
The Chilean peso is equal to 100 centavos. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000 pesos, as well as coins in 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 pesos. Payment for goods and services in US dollars is possible.
You can exchange money at banks or exchange offices (“casas de cambios”). It is quite possible to exchange with private money changers - their rate is usually 10 percent more favorable, but cases of fraud are not uncommon here.
Large stores, restaurants and hotels accept payment credit cards leading world systems. Traveler's checks can be exchanged at banks (departments dealing with traveler's checks are usually open here only until noon) or at exchange offices (usually there is a more favorable rate here). To avoid additional exchange costs, it is recommended to take traveler's checks in US dollars with you. In the provinces, the use of non-cash means of payment is problematic.
History of Chile
The history of Chile dates back to the settlement of the region about 13,000 years ago. In the 16th century, the conquest and subjugation of the territories of present-day Chile by Spanish conquistadors began; in the 19th century. The Chilean people won independence from colonial rule. The further development of Chile until the Second World War was predetermined initially by the extraction of saltpeter and, somewhat later, copper. The large availability of mineral resources led to significant economic growth in Chile, but also to heavy dependence on neighboring states and even wars with them. After a century of Christian Democratic leadership in the country, socialist President Salvador Allende came to power in Chile in 1970. General Augusto Pinochet's putsch on September 11, 1973 marked the beginning of a 17-year dictatorship in the country and led to radical market reforms in the economy. Since 1988, Chile has taken the democratic path of development.
Popular attractions
Tourism in Chile
Where to stay
The hotel base in Chile is improving every year. The classification of hotels in the country is standard European: from one to five stars. In Chile, vacationers have a very large selection of places to stay, ranging from hostels, small family hotels and guest houses to luxury premium hotels.
The best Chilean hotels are concentrated in Santiago, the country's largest city. Hotels from all leading international hotel chains are represented here, most of which operate on an all-inclusive program. The country's largest ski hotels are located in winter resorts such as Portillo, Termas de Chillan, and Valle Nevada.
A universal accommodation option for guests of Chile are cabañas - separate apartments or chalets, ranging from the simplest with minimal service and amenities to truly luxurious ones.
Apart-hotels, which are quite similar to cabanas, are considered a separate type of accommodation in the country. These are apartment buildings with separate cozy apartments that provide hotel service. Vacationers have several rooms with a separate kitchen at their disposal. Another option for accommodation in Chile is a hosteria - a private hotel or boarding house with an average price range and level of service.
As for hostels, in the country they are located mainly in the capital. Many of them are located in private houses, where there are both common areas and separate rooms for guests. Most hostels are quite comfortable, and in terms of amenities they are not inferior to such inexpensive hotels as residencial, which can be found in every provincial city.
In almost all Chilean hotels, excluding the cheapest ones, breakfast is included in the room price. Inexpensive hotels offer guests a continental breakfast, while more expensive hotels offer a buffet or traditional American breakfast.
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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 : Official language Chile is Spanish. Many residents who speak Spanish continue to communicate with each other in German and Araucano; by the way, most Chileans speak quite well English. 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 : Currency states: (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%.
National composition The immigrant population is very diverse, but is dominated by Spaniards and Italians. In recent decades, immigrants have mainly arrived here from neighboring countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Peru.
Most of Chile's population is employed primarily in the mining industry, 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.
Most characteristic physical attributes local residents One can note a rather 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 most big lake of glacial origin, 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 mountain 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: western part islands "" (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 a desert island (Spanish Isla Mas a Tierra, now the island of Robinson Crusoe). Easter Island 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 favor 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 forested areas south of Bio-Bio, long time remaining under the control of the Araucanians - 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 planets. 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 different countries world, working 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 winter rainfalls produce an incredible explosion of wild blooms in the spring, this one natural phenomenon known as the "Blooming Desert". 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, stunning Mediterranean landscapes prevail with a mild climate, dry, warm summers and rainy winters: in summer (December-February) average temperature 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. Thanks to the very extended 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, subtropical vegetation predominates (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 countries Latin America, 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!
|
Republic of Chile.
The name of the country in the language of the local Arawak Indians means “cold, winter.”
Capital of Chile. Santiago.
Area of Chile. 756945 km2.
Population of Chile. 17.95 million (
Chile GDP. $258.1 billion (
Location of Chile. State in the southwest. The territory of Chile stretches along the coast from north to south for 4300 km. There are two stretching across the entire country. In the east - , in the west along the coast - coastal. In the north, Chile borders with, in the east - with and, in the south and west it is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Chile also owns the island of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) and the Juan Fernandez Archipelago.
Administrative divisions of Chile. The state is divided into 12 regions.
Chilean form of government. Republic.
Head of State of Chile. President.
Supreme legislative body of Chile. National Congress (two chambers: Senate and Chamber of Deputies).
Supreme executive body of Chile. Cabinet of Ministers (headed by the president).
Major cities Chile. Concepcion, Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, Talcahuano, Antofagasta.
National language of Chile. Spanish.
Fauna of Chile. Among the representatives of the animal world, Chile is characterized by puma, wolf, chinchilla, llama, kudu deer, skunk, otter, nutria, and rodents. A large number of birds live here, including ostriches.
and lakes of Chile. The largest rivers are Bio-Bio, Loa. In the south of the country there is the Large Lakes Zone.
Sights of Chile. The most beautiful and famous sights of Chile - Chungara, Parinacota, San Pedro de Atacama, Tatio geysers, mountain lake Miscan-ti, granite towers of Torres del Paine, archaeological sites of Copaquilla and Zapauira, as well as the southernmost region of the American continent . They are famous in the capital national museums- historical, artistic, natural history, as well as the Museum of the Peoples of America, the Museum of Modern Art.
Useful information for tourists
You can bargain at markets and private shops. Chile's main beach resort, Viña del Mar, is located just 10 km north of Valparaiso and is commonly referred to as the "Garden City" due to its subtropical landscape, palms and banana trees. Horse-drawn carriages travel between attractive mansions from the last century, the beach and the riverbank. Other attractions include pristine sand beaches, numerous parks and excellent museums housed in restored colonial mansions. The National Botanical Garden of Chile is also located here, displaying many hundreds of species of local and exotic plants on its 61 hectares.
Tips are 10% of the bill, often already included in the total. Taxi drivers do not require tips, but it is advisable to round up the fare for convenience.
Latin American countries - relatively new tourist destination and, unlike resorts Caribbean, quite a small number of Russian tourists come here on vacation. Chile is one of them. We primarily associate this state with the bloody dictator Pinochet, and also with very hot pepper. But the years
they are coming, the military junta has been defeated, and chili peppers can be avoided or consumed in moderation. But the amazing beauty of nature, the wonders of architecture and the mysteries of bygone civilizations remain and attract inquisitive travelers.
Tours to Chile rarely go without visiting the shores of which there are strange stone idols moai. Scientists still cannot come to a consensus about what religious beliefs gave rise to these sculptures and, most importantly, how the ancient islanders brought them to the shores from the quarries. “As a child, we were taught at school that there is no country more wonderful than Chile,” says the song based on the poems of Pablo Neruda. This phenomenal state lies in almost all climatic zones planet, and you can drive from the subequatorial jungle to the tundra without crossing
The capital of Chile, Santiago, cannot, of course, compare with Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, where many buildings of colonial architecture have been preserved, but this city has its own “face”, its own special charm. Many travelers consider it as a simple transit point to immediately go to Patagonia or to Patagonia. However, there is a reason to stay here for a few days. Santiago is surrounded on all sides by a crown of majestic mountain peaks.
The Andes not only form a unique microclimate, but also serve as a place of recreation for the residents of the capital: mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, and even snowboarding. Having plowed the snow-covered slopes to your heart's content, and feeling a little chilled, you can go to the beach, since the capital of Chile lies just an hour's drive from the sea. Having become acquainted with the natural beauties of the surroundings of Santiago, you need to pay due attention to the architectural sights of the city.
All sightseeing tours usually start from the Plaza de Armas - the Plaza de Armas, from which the capital of Chile began. In 1541, the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia built an arsenal on this site because he felt uncomfortable among the local population. Since that time, the square has also been a market; festivals and even bullfights have been held there. Nowadays fountains gurgle here, and only the bronze statue of a conquistador reminds of the
dumbfounded. La Chascona is a must on your Santiago excursion program. This poet’s house fully reflects his character: here you will not find straight walls and right angles, but only a complex interweaving of flights of stairs, garden paths and secret passages.
The capital of Chile is also famous for another building - La Moneda Palace. Coins were once minted here (hence the name), but later a presidential palace was built here. It was he who was bombed by the Pinochet junta in 1973, as a result of which the palace was partially destroyed. A monument has now been erected in front of the government residence building. If you wish, you can get inside the building or simply limit yourself to observing the ceremonial changing of the guard to the beat of drums and music.
