Chile is a Spanish-speaking country in southwestern South America. It borders Argentina to the east, Peru to the north, and Bolivia to the northeast. As of the 2017 Chilean census, the country has a population of 17.5 million, most of whom live in or around Santiago, Chile’s capital and largest city.
Chile is the southernmost country in the world, the closest country to Antarctica, and, with a 674 billion USD, the wealthiest country in South America.
History (since independence)
Chile gained independence from Spain on February 12, 1818, after fighting an eight-year-long revolution against Spanish rule. Spain would not recognize Chile’s independence until 1844.
From independence up until 1932, Chile went through many systems of republican governments. Eventually, the country would become a stable democracy in 1932 after the government squashed a socialist revolutionary movement.
In the 1960s and 70s, Chile went through political polarization, colmentating in a coup d’etat in 1973, which resulted in Augusto Pinochet overthrowing left-wing president Salvador Allende. During Pinochet’s 16-year-long reign, Chile would adopt its current constitution and the military killed over 3,000 people. Eventually, Chile returned to democracy in 1990, ending Pinochet’s dictatorship.
Geography
Chile’s geography varies depending on which part of it you are in. In Northern Chile, the Atacama Desert covers a majority of the land. The desert is so dry that some parts have no recorded rainfall. There are also grazing lands in Northern Chile. The northern part of Chile is home to various mining operations, main minerals extracted in the north include nitrates, lithium, iron, and copper.
In the Central Zone, there is a Mediterranean Climate, similar to California. The country’s capital, Santiago, is located in the Central Zone. Other cities in this region include Valparaiso and Concepcion. In total, 7 million people live in Central Chile.
In Southern Chile, the climate is much colder due to its proximity to Antarctica. Most of this region is carved up by channels and fjords. There are also forests in this region, where the Chilean lumber industry is concentrated. In the southernmost part of the region, the island of Tierra Del Fuego, shared between Argentina and Chile, is located at the bottom of the world. On the Chilean side of the island, the world’s southernmost city, Puerto Williams, exists with a population of 2,000.
The aforementioned regions are all in the shadow of the Andes Mountains, which begin in Chile and continue to Venezuela.
Chile also owns Easter Island, home to the Moai heads and the easternmost island in Polynesia. Chile annexed Easter Island in 1888 after subjugating the native Rapa Nui tribes that lived there already.