hanns - Chile
	General Culture Human Resources Economics Trade Politics

General Information

Chile is located on South America’s western coast.  The country is 2,672 miles long with an average width of 112 miles.  The Pacific Ocean borders the entire west coast.  Peru borders Chile to the north; Bolivia and Argentina to the east.

The Straight of Magellan runs through the southern tip and connects the South Atlantic Ocean with the South Pacific Ocean.  Chile’s territory includes several islands such as Isla Pascua (Easter Island), Isla Sala y Gomez (Sala and Gomez Island), and Islas Juan Fernandez (Juan Fernandez Islands).  Chile also claims possession of a 480,000 square mile portion of Antarctica that is also claimed by Britain.

Since Chile is located in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite those in North America.  For example, summer is between December and March.  Time differences are also affected by Chile’s location in the southern hemisphere.  Chilean local time is 2 hours ahead of Eastern Standard time (during northern winter) and the same time as Eastern Daylight time (during northern summer).   The US moves the clock ahead around the same time Chile moves it back to their standard time in their Fall, which makes the times the same, and the US moves the clock back to Eastern Standard time around the same time Chile moves the clock ahead in their Spring, giving the two hour difference.

Chile’s climate varies greatly from the northern to the southern regions due to its great length.  The northern region is comprised mainly of arid desert.  The central region is more temperate and Mediterranean.  The southern region is sub-arctic and cool and damp.

Chile is comprised of many different landscapes, including:  deserts; swamps; forests; Andes Mountains; beautiful lakes; rich agricultural regions; volcanoes; and a wide variety of plants and animals.  The Atacama Desert is one of the world’s driest regions.  70% of the land is mountainous.  The Andes extend the entire length and form a natural barrier between Chile and Argentina and Bolivia.  There are also many volcanoes, most of which are extinct.  Chile has the longest seacoast of any country in the world and is a strategic location relative to sea-lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans since it has access to the Straight of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, and the Drake Passage.

2005 Population Estimates

Total Population:  15,980,912.

Population Growth Rate:  97%

Birth Rate:  15.44 births / 1000 population

Death Rate:  5.76 deaths / 1000 population

Net Migration Rate:  0/1000

Median Age:  30.07

The average life expectancy at birth is 76.58, up from 57 in 1960 due to improved health care conditions and modernization of the life-style by the predominantly urban population.

85% of Chileans live in cities and more than 90% live in central Chile.  Santiago’s metropolitan region is home to more than 1 in 3 of Chileans.  Most people migrate from the other regions to central Chile.

About 95% of Chileans have either a European heritage or are of mixed European-indigenous descent, 3% are purely indigenous (mostly Mapuche), 2% have other ethnic origins. The native cultures include the Atacameno, Diaguita, Araucanian, and Mapuche Indians.  Few blacks were brought to Chile as slaves during the colonial times due to lack of plantation economy.

Religion

Most Chileans are of Christian faith.  More than 80% are Roman Catholic and the majority of others are of various Protestant groups or other Christian churches.  There is a small Jewish minority and many indigenous people follow their traditional beliefs.  Church and state are separate and religious freedom is guaranteed.

Currency

The currency is the Chilean Peso.  The value in 2005 was approximately 511.45 Chilean Pesos to 1 US dollar.

      The First Peso                                        2000 Pesos

Government

The Republic of Chile is a multiparty democracy.  The political parties include the Leftist Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and the Rightist Independent Democratic Union (UDI).  The country is divided into 13 numbered regions; Region I is the most northern.  The president appoints the intendents who head the administrations of the regions who govern with the aid of a regional council, which may include the governors of the constituent provinces and representatives of various other private and public institutions within the region.  The legislature sits at Valparaiso, which is located in central Chile to the northwest of Santiago.

Chile’s first woman president, Michelle Bachelet, was sworn into office on March 11, 2006.  She replaces Ricardo Lagos Escobar as chief of state and head of government.  Bachelet “is the fourth consecutive leader from the center-left coalition that has ruled Chile since the country returned to democracy in 1990 after the 17-year Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.”  (msnbc)

The National Congress has two houses:  Senate (48 members) and Chamber of Deputies (120 members).  Legislative politics revolve around two bloc coalitions:  Center-right and Center-left.  The voting age is 18 and all eligible citizens are required to vote by law.

The president appoints Justices and prosecutors of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals from list of nominees proposed by Supreme Court.  Judges are career functionaries of the Ministry of Justice.

Industries

Copper

Chile is one of world’s largest producers of copper and it accounts for about 40% of all exports.  Copper deposits are mined in the Central Valley region.

Fresh Fruit

Fresh fruit is a chief industry and is exported to over 40 countries.  The main fruits include grapes, apples, nectarines, and peaches from the Northern Desert region.

Other important industries by region

Agriculture, fish products, wood products, metals, light manufacturing, and the mining of minerals and metals are also important industries.

Greater Santiago

Foodstuffs, textiles, footwear, clothing, leather, and chemicals

Central Valley

Wheat, grapes, beans, and tobacco

Santiago

Center of financial and banking sectors

Central

Economic, political, and agricultural core

Northern desert

Minerals and metal mines, goat raising, Pisco (A famous white brandy distilled from sun-dried grapes), fine wines, and fruits

Southern third

Sheep raising is a major activity

Santiago

Santiago is the capital city of Chile.  It is also the largest city and the capital of the metropolitan Region of Santiago.  Greater Santiago contains nearly a third of the country’s total population.

The city is located in north-central Chile and encompasses over 100 square miles.

It is situated in the fertile Central Valley in a depression formed by mountain ranges.  The city is bordered by the Andes Mountains to the east and the west by the coastal ranges. 

Santiago has the largest concentration of industries and the area accounts for about half of the country’s total manufacturing output.

The area is subject to frequent earthquakes and many of its historic buildings have been damaged repeatedly.

Excellent transportation facilities are present that connect Santiago with nearby ski slopes and seaside resorts.

Climate

Summer (January):  average temperatures of 68° F

Winter (July): average temperatures of 46° F

Annual precipitation:  about 15 inches and is concentrated in the winter months

Areas of Interest

Plaza de Armas square:  The location of numerous monuments and public buildings and the heart of Santiago’s business district

San Cristobal Hills:  The largest park in the city and has many terraces, flower gardens, winding paths and a zoological garden

Cerrillos Park:  Hosts an annual agricultural and industrial show and flower exhibitions

Summertime ballet performances are popular in the parks

National Stadium:  Houses spectator sports such as soccer (futbol) and gymnastics

History

The first “explorers” to come to Chile are the Incas from Peru who arrived in the mid-15th century.  In the mid-1520’s, Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese sailor / explorer, was the first European to see Chile when he navigated around the southern tip of South America.  In 1536, Diego de Almagro claimed Chile as part of the Spanish Empire for Francisco Pizarro.  In 1541, Pedro de Valdivia commenced the Spanish conquest when he fought against the Araucanians.

In 1810, Chile started their war for independence from Spain.  The Spanish were defeated in 1817 when Jose de San Martin lead armies from Argentina over the Andes Mountains.  Bernardo O’Higgins was a revolution hero and became the supreme dictator of the new republic.  He left the country in 1823 due to oppositions in land and other reform efforts.

During the years 1879 – 1884 Chile fought the War of the Pacific against Peru and Bolivia and won.  They then annexed the provinces of Tarapaca and Antofagasta in the north.

Civil War broke out in 1891 and was followed by less stable governments and military interventions.  In 1932 Chile returned to constitutional rule and reelected President Arturo Alessandri.

Chile in the 20th Century

Chile concentrated on promoting economic growth and addressing social problems.  By 1970, many people became convinced that socialism could solve some problems without hindering growth.  Salvador Allende became the first freely elected Marxist president in South America. 

General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte led a military coup that ended Allende’s government in 1973.  Human-rights abuses and dictatorial government often characterize him.  Pinochet is also credited for building a successful and productive economy.  He ruled until 1988 when he subjected himself to a plebiscite to determine if he should continue in power and lost.

Patricio Aylwin Azocar was elected president in 1990.  During his power, Chile became one of most prosperous Latin American countries.  He is credited with implementing successful antipoverty programs and maintaining a delicate balance between opposing political forces.

Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle was elected in 1994.  He emphasized more social spending for education and antipoverty measures and pursued closer economic ties with North and South America.  Constitutional reforms to reduce the military’s political power were introduced and he made it so Chilean Presidents cannot serve two consecutive terms.

The Government still focuses on building the nation’s economy, reforming the constitution, and exposing the fate of those who disappeared during the Pinochet regime.

The Chilean Flag

The flag is designed with two equal horizontal bands, white at the top and red at the bottom, with a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band.  The blue square bears a white five-pointed star in the center.  The US flag and its representation of independence influenced the flag’s design.

Symbol representation:

Star:  represents a guide to progress and honor

Blue:  symbolizes the sky

White:  the snow-covered Andes