Background Information About Chile

Chile is a very long country (2,650 miles) and comparatively narrow (maximum 250 miles). It extends from latitudes 18 to 56 grades south and contains one of the driest regions in the world and one of the wettest areas in South America. It is bound on the north by Peru, on the northeast by Bolivia, on its long eastern border (3,200miles) by Argentina and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.

In its economy and public services, Chile is one of the most developed countries in the Andean region.

General Information

Area: 736,905 sq. km (284,520 sq. mi.)
Capital City: Santiago
Gross National Product
per capita $ 1,510 (1988 estimate)
Currency unit: Peso
Population: 13'173,000 (1990 estimate)
Density: 16.7 persons/sq. mi. (1986 estimate)
Urban-rural population: 83.6 urban, 16.4 rural
Nartural increase: 1.6 % (1985-1990)
Illiteracy rate: 5.6 % (1985 estimate)
Highest point: 22,572 ft (Ojos del Salado)
Main cities: Concepcion, Vina del Mar, Valparaiso
National Holiday: Independence Day, 18 September

Geography: Natural Regions

Chile consists of three distinct longitudinal structural regions -the Andes, the coastal range and the central Valley- and a series of latitudinal and altitudinal climatic regions.

The Andes

The Andes (Cordillera) run along the entire length of the eastern part of the country. The watershed between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, which follows the central and often highest ridges of the Andes, was adopted (by agreement with Argentina) as Chile's eastern boundary. In the north, approximately to latitude 27 grades, the Andes consist of two or more almost parallel ranges. The Chilean Andes are highest and most rugged and precipitous in the northern and central parts of the country, with peaks above 6,000 meters (20,000 feet). South America's highest peak, Aconcagua 7,025 meters (22,834 feet), rises just east of Chile's border. Mountain passes in this part of the Andes are few and difficult, rising above 3,100 meters. South of Santiago the Andes become gradually lower, with peaks of approximately 3,600 meters (12,000 feet). Passes are much lower and easier to negotiate. In the extreme south, the Andes are fragmented by deep, latitudinal valleys (of glacial origin) deep ocean inlets and channels. The mountains extend trough the island of Tierra del Fuego to the southern end of the continent.

Near the Chilean Andes and along their western flank is one of the world's densest concentrations of volcanoes, both extinct and active. There are over 2,000, including 48 that have erupted at least once within the last 100 years. The abundance of volcanic features in Chile and its vicinity is also reflected in the frequent seismic events and conspicuous evidence of recent tectonic movements.

The Coastal Range

The second structural region is the coastal range (Cordillera de la Costa), which follows the coastline closely throughout northern and central Chile. It rises abruptly from the shoreline in high cliffs that for hundred of miles form an unbroken wall, creating a coastline devoid of natural harbors and a formidable obstacle to access inland. Large parts of the coastal range are actually an eroded plateau descending west to the sea by cliff-bound terraces. The coastal range rises to an altitude of approximately 2,700 meters (8,800 feet). The southward extension of the coastal range beyond Puerto Montt forms a chain of approximately 3,000 hilly islands, extending along a fjord-lined coast to Cape Horn at the southern extremity of the South American continent. The largest of these islands is Chiloe, just south of Puerto Montt. This chain of islands is interrupted by Taitao Peninsula, which is southern relic of the triple-longitudinal-belt structure that predominates farther north.

The Central Valley

The third structural region, and the most important one, insofar as human settlement is concerned, is the depression between the Andes and the coastal range known as the Central Valley. It is a long and narrow basin of varying width, reaching approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) at its widest section. The Central Valley is not continuous; it is interrupted by spurs from the Andes and is divided by a wide mountainous intrusion into two main basins, each of which includes a number of smaller basins.

The northern basin, extending from Arica to Copiapo, is the Atacama Desert, one of the driest areas on the earth. The second major basin is that of central Chile. It extends from , Santiago southward to Puerto Montt and is Chile's main agricultural area and its most densely inhabited region. It is climatically the most attractive part of the country.

The Islands Territories

Chile owns several groups of small and mostly inhabited volcanic islands opposite its shores in the eastern Pacific: The Juan Fernandez Island, Easter Island, Sala y Gomez, San Felix and San Ambrosio, and Diego Ramirez Islands. Chile claims a section of Antarctica between longitudes 53 and 90 degrees west and the neighboring islands.

Climate

Extending over 38 degrees of latitude, from the tropics to the vicinity of Antarctica, and from sea level to altitudes of over 6,000 meters (20,000 feet), Chile has a wide variety of climatic conditions. Extreme aridity prevails over the northern part of the country; the average annual rainfall in this region is 0.04 inches. Temperatures are moderate along the coast throughout the year and more extreme inland, especially in the central basin. The average temperatures for the hottest (February) and coldest (July) months are 22 C (72F) and 15C (60F).