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República de Chile ( es )
Republic of Chile ( en )

( Flag of Chile ) ( Coat of arms of Chile )
Motto : Por La Razon o fuerza
(By reason or by force)

Official Languages Spanish
Capital Santiago
33 ° 27’43 “S 70 ° 41’43 “W.
Largest city Santiago
Form of the state Presidential republic
- President Sebastián Piñera
Area
- Total
- Water (%) Ranked 38 th
756 950 1 km 2
1.07%
Population
- Total ( 2010 )
- Density Ranked 60 th
16,746,491 inhabitants.
22.1 inhabitants / km 2
Independence
- Date of Spain
First National Junta of Chile: 18 September 1810
Signature of Independence: 12 February 1818
Demonym Chile, Chile
HDI ( 2007 ) 0.878 2 (high) ( 44 th )
Currency Peso ² ( CLP )
Time zone UTC -4 (for Chile Continental) and Chile Islander, UTC -6. In summer, the time zone is UTC -3 UTC and -5, respectively.
National anthem Dulce Patria, recibe los votos (dear country, accept our vows)
ISO 3166-1 code CHL, CL
Internet domain . Cl
Indicative
phone 56

The Chili , in the long form Republic of Chile , in Spanish Chile and República de Chile is a country in South America, sharing borders with Peru to the north, Bolivia to the north-east and Argentina in the east . In Antarctica , the government claimed possession on the continent. The engagement ring Chilean Antarctic Territory corresponds to longitude 53 ° W and 90 ° W and is located south of the sixty-fifth parallel south. The extent of this territory would be about 1,236,000 square kilometers. The Easter Island located 3000 kilometers from Valparaíso Ocean Pacific is part of Chile since 1888 3 .
Being present on three continents – South America, the Oceania and Antarctica – Chile can be defined as a country Tricontinental 4 . The capital of this country to the elongated shape called the Santiago 5 .
Chile is one of the so-called Southern Cone and among Latin American countries, it is where European culture is more assertive, with Argentina. Chile is the most developed country in Latin America (in 2010, its human development index was 0.895 6 ). It is also, in 2010, the least corrupt country in Latin America 7 , and one of the most democratic 8 .
It talks about the Chilean Spanish , but also Native American languages ​​as runa simi , the Mapudungun or the Aymara , and a Polynesian language , the Vanags Rapanui (Easter Island), which has no official status .
The national currency is the peso ( CLP ). At 2 January 2011 , it is 626 Chilean pesos to € 1 425 against the dollar of the United States 9 .
On 11 January 2010 , Chile became a member of the OECD 10 .
Etymology

Many hypotheses have been advanced about the origin of the name of the country.
According to one of them, the conquistadors settled in Peru called the southern region Valle de Chile . Many names come from Hispanicized names of local rivers (Río Virú Peru, Lima to Rio Rimac). It may be that the country’s name is linked to that of the river that runs through the city of Arequipa in southern Peru, the Río Chili.
According to Abate Molina , the name comes from TRIH o chi , term used to describe a bird with yellow patches on its wings 11 .
According to historian Ricardo Latcham , the name comes from a group of Native Americans (the Mitimaes) captured by the Incas, who came from a region of Peru where there was a river of that name 12 .
Another theory argues that the anonymous source is Aymara for the Inca Tupac Yupanqui had given this name to the conquered lands south of the Inca Empire, to the valley of the Aconcagua (meaning “frozen” or “where ends the earth “in Aymara).
However, the country’s name has no connection with the Spanish word chile refers to the pepper . This is not entirely true. Some historians still believe the country’s name comes from the shape of long narrow pepper in reference to the shape of the country [ref. needed] .
History

Main article: History of Chile .
Pre-Columbian period
Main article: History of Pre-Columbian Chile .
Various research shows that the first people who lived the country would have come to 35 000 BC. AD, a period of Pleistocene to the prehistoric site of ” Monte Verde I , “and to 15 000 BC. AD for the site ” Monte Verde II “(late Pleistocene and the beginning of the Holocene (the late Upper Paleolithic ). Prehispanic Chile was inhabited by various Native American peoples who had settled at once in the Andes and the coast. In the north, the Aymara and Atacaméniens began to xi th century AD to cultivate the land in the way of the Incas (culture terraced mountainside with various pipelines). The xv th century , the Incas took possession of the territory of Chile to the current river Maule . To the south of the Aconcagua, the semi-nomadic communities like the Mapuches were installed. In the southern zone of the country , various Native American peoples lived, such as Chonos, the Taman, the Alacalufes and Onas. In the Easter Island culture developed a Polynesian extinct today.
Pacific side, different cultures and peoples coexisted: Aymara , Changos, Chinchorro, Atacama and Diaguitas in the north; Picunches, Mapuche, and Huilliche Chonos in central and south, and Onas , Yaganes and Alacalufes in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego . The Mapuche community have formed the most numerous.
Spanish colonization
Main article: Discovery of Chile .
Presidential Palace of La Moneda, built from 1776 to 1817
In 1520 , Ferdinand Magellan was the first European explorer to set foot on the territory of Chile present after discovering the strait that now bears his name. In 1535 , the conquistadores Spanish attempt to conquer the territory of the Valle de Chile fighting the Incas. The expedition of Diego de Almagro was a failure. That of Pedro de Valdivia made ​​in 1536 is more convincing. Valdivia founded a series of towns like Santiago de Extremadura New 13 on 12 February 1541 and Valdivia in 1545 14 .
Valdivia began an arduous military campaign against the indigenous Mapuche. This is the war of Arauco Alonso de Ercilla recounts with passion in his work La Araucana (in 1576 ). Pedro de Valdivia died in 1553 following an uprising of the Mapuche.
In 1683 , the slavery is abolished and this allows for more serene relationship between the colonists and the Mapuche. Subsequently, several clashes took place until about the middle of the xix th century for the possession of the most southern land. For a long time, the river marks the border between Biobio the colonial government and Indian tribes.
The Captaincy General of Chile (also known as the Reino de Chile ) is the time one of the more southern colonies of the Spanish Empire. Because of its geographical position is a strategic colony, protecting the Strait of Magellan and a colony whose economic resources were taken on behalf of the Viceroyalty of Peru .
Independence and territorial gains
Bernardo O’Higgins, the first dictator of Chile 1817 – 1823 .
On 18 September 1810 , a group of Creoles benefits invasions Napoleon in Spain to initiate a process of self-determination and establish a junta .
Begins a period known as the former homeland, which will last until the disaster of Rancagua in 1814 , when the royalist troops regain control of the territory. Independence with the troops 6514 soldiers took refuge in Mendoza , joining forces with troops from the Province of Argentina , which had 2600 soldiers, forming the army of the Andes. This frees Chile after the battle of Chacabuco , on 12 February 1817 . The following year, Chile’s independence was declared and the country is under the authority of Bernardo O’Higgins who takes the title of Supreme Commander 15 .
It began reforms that cause discontent of the aristocracy , which forced him to abdicate in 1823 . For ten years, Chile is subject to a series of reforms that attempt to provide an organization in the country. After a series of victories of the conservatives, with the revolution of 1829 , a period of stability begins. It is called Conservative Republic. The Minister Diego Portales is then the main protagonist of the organization of the country through the Constitution of 1833 .
Territorial gains in the Chilean Atacama Desert to the xix th and early xx th century .
Gradually, the country began to expand its influence in the continent both north and south. The economy is starting to take off with the discovery of ore Chañarcillo and growth of trade from the port of Valparaiso . This source of wealth leads to a conflict with Peru for maritime supremacy in the Pacific. The formation of the Confederation of Peru and Bolivia is considered a threat to the stability of Chile. Thus, Portales declares war that ends with the victory of the Battle of Yungay in 1839 and the dissolution of the Confederation. At the same time the country tries to take control of the southern regions. It expands its territory in Araucania and colonize Llanquihue , Osorno and Valdivia by bringing in settlers German . The Magellan region is incorporated in 1843 and the area of Antofagasta starting to be inhabited.
Pacific War: Naval Battle of Iquique on 21 May 1879 .
After thirty years of Conservative government ( in 1831 – 1 861 ) began a period in which the Liberal Party (left) takes possession of power. At that time, economic growth is very strong, thanks to the use of saltpeter in the area of Antofagasta. This wealth causes envy of Bolivia claiming possession of the territory. Even with the signing of several treaties in 1866 and 1871 , both countries do not find a solution. Thus, 14 February 1879 , Chile took possession of the port of Antofagasta, declaring war on Bolivia. On 21 May 1879 took place on Naval Combat of Iquique .
The Peru , meanwhile, has previously signed a secret pact with Bolivia in conflict with Chile. The Pacific War ( one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine – one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four ) begins. It ends with the Battle of the Huamachuco 10 July 1883 and the victory of Chile. After this conflict, Chile took possession of the areas in the provinces of Antofagasta and Tarapacá , Arica and Tacna (the latter is returned to Peru in 1929 ) 16 . The country at the same time solves the problem of border with Argentina by selling a large part of the Patagonia and the Puna de Atacama. Finally, in the south of the territory ended the War of Arauco with the “pacification” of the Araucania in 1881 and the integration of Easter Island in 1888 .
In 1891 , the conflict between President José Manuel Balmaceda and Congress led to a civil war. Delegates won the battle and set up the parliamentary republic.
The following years were marked by a period of economic prosperity, political instability and by the beginning of the proletarian movement called Social Cuestión . The latter is taking place because of “bad distribution of wealth.” After ten years of power of the oligarchy , Arturo Alessandri Palma elected. It represents the missing link between an elite but temporary and “poor dear” ( querida chusmas in Spanish). Despite this, the crisis continues and Alessandri renounces having enacted the 1925 Constitution which gives rise to a presidential republic.
The xx th century: political instability and coups
José Manuel Balmaceda
The decline in demand for nitrate and the first workers’ struggles caused by poor working conditions create a climate of social and political instability during the year 1920 . President Arturo Alessandri undertake social reforms and promulgates the Constitution of 1925 . But the global crisis of 1929 plunged Chile into the recession and social unrest. Governments come and coups. Carlos Ibáñez del Campo became president de facto in 1927 17 , suspend the elections and rule by decree, while sending his exiled rival Marmaduque Grove , who had participated with him in the coup d State in 1925 . The consequences of the First World War (when the country was declared neutral), poor economic policy and the means to lessen the effects of the Great Depression had an impact on the saltpeter , producing an economic crisis in which Chile suffered a severe economic downturn.
Ibáñez resigned in 1932 and political instability is accentuated by a coup that gave birth to the Socialist Republic of Chile , which lasts only twelve days before Alessandra regain the power and the economy recovers. The arrival of Alessandri has the effect of lessening tensions between political parties. There is also a social crisis, new players require changes in the way of governing the country. Pedro Aguirre Cerda was elected president in 1938 through an alliance (the Popular Front in Chile ) that opposes the ruling elite . t shirt design Of social and political reforms make Chile one of the most advanced countries in terms of legislation and social protection. The copper is slowly replacing the nitrate in the national economy (due to global demand largely because of the discovery of the mine at Chuquicamata ). The country gradually became industrialized, and the number of workers increases.
The government of Aguirre Cerda manages a number of changes, mainly economic, laying the foundations of Chilean industrialization through the creation of CORFO . However, it causes a period of radicalism. At geopolitical country claims the Chilean Antarctic Territory . The reforms stopped abruptly with the death of President in November 1941, during World War II . Juan Antonio Ríos , his successor, faces opposition and pressure from the U.S. to enter war against the countries of the axis , the declaration of war was signed on January 20 1943 . In 1946, with support from the Communist Party , the radical Gabriel González Videla was elected President. However, the start of the Cold War forced to ban the Communist Party through the Law of Defense of Democracy (Ley Maldita) . In 1952 , Carlos Ibáñez del Campo returned to power – this time by means of an election – but he lost the favor of the population due to the introduction of liberal reforms.
Statue of Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez.
In 1958 , the independent right of Jorge Alessandri was elected. He must face the consequences of the Valdivia earthquake in 1960 , the highest ever recorded, and the organization of the World Cup football in 1962 . Then established the system of los very tercios (three thirds) composed by the Right, the Christian Democratic Party and the Left of the Frente de Acción Popular. Fearing a victory of denver auto accident lawyer the Left, Right supports Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei Montalva who was elected in 1964 . The president is trying to achieve in Libertad Revolución (Revolution in Freedom) through many reforms such as land reform and Chileanization of copper (ownership by Chilean mines previously owned the U.S. ). At the end of his term, the political tension produced a series of clashes. The obstruction of the right in Congress increases.
Government of Allende
Articles: Salvador Allende and Unidad Popular .
President Salvador Allende
The United States not directly involved in the campaign, even if the candidacy of conservative Jorge Alessandri is supported by the company International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) (about 350 000 dollars U.S.). There is no comparison with what the companies have given during the Frei campaign, when there was an electoral assistance 18 .
On 4 September 1970 , the candidate of the Popular Unity , Salvador Allende , is at the top of the presidential election with 36.6% of the vote, ahead of the conservative Jorge Alessandri (34.9%) and the Christian Democratic Radomiro Tomic ( 27.8%) 19 . Allende, a former health minister and former president of the senate, had been a candidate three times. In the absence of further ballot, the one that tops must be confirmed by Congress, dominated by Christian Democrats and Conservatives. On 24 October 1970 , the electronic cigarette review Social Christian Democrats get the nomination of Allende in exchange for a promise to respect the freedoms and the rule of law. The Alessandria are afraid of the socialist government, Allende and while the Christian Democrats express their joy in the street.
And became the first democratically elected president on a socialist program and having a parliamentary majority with the support of Christian Democrats, Allende intensifying the reforms of his predecessor. The copper mines (representing three quarters of exports) were nationalized 51% by Eduardo Frei Montalva , Allende expropriated without compensation to the remaining U.S. companies. It significantly increases the policy of land redistribution for the poor farmers. Many other companies are nationalized or requisitioned (nine out of ten banks). The Allende government is implementing social measures such as higher wages and free milk for children. The economic results of the first year in office Allende “appear quite satisfactory” : GDP grew at first strongly (+8% in 1971) before s’effrondrer (-4.3% in 1973) 20 , unemployment and inflation decrease, however, success is “misleading” 21 . The next two years will be catastrophic. Inflation exploded (508% between December 1972 and December 1973), GDP is contracting (-3.6% yoy) and the value of the Chilean currency fall. The monetary policy too expansionary and the falling price of copper by about a third from 1970 to 1972 in global markets are largely responsible for these results, compounded by the destabilization of the economy by opponents 22 , 23 . The government is trying to stem the crisis by fixing food prices, causing a black market and shortages. In 1972 began the steps of the empty pots in which they express the housewives have nothing to cook.
Demonstration supporting the Allende government.
In March 1973 , the Christian Democrats and the Conservatives get a single list with 55.6% of the vote in parliamentary elections 24 . Despite improving its electoral score (44.1%), Allende’s Popular Unity is a minority and the 1973 annual budget is not voted. Allende, however, is immune to a dismissal, the opposition do not meet two thirds of the votes and seats, he decided to renew the 1972 budget for the year 1973 by decree, this statutory provision, setting place under the socialist government Marmaduque Grove in 1932, allows him to dispense with the consent of Parliament.
Allende is also trying to get the active support of the population of workers’ militias were formed in towns and villages to maintain the legitimacy of the revolutionary government. The opposition conservative Christian Democrats, unable to block Allende decisions because of the marginalization of parliament, in turn mobilize the street. They organize and provide input to a series of revolts and manifestations (the most famous being the truckers’ strike), which paralyze the country as its economy is already weakened by the reforms of Allende. At the same time, we are witnessing the rise of paramilitary groups of the extreme right and the country is a civil war where opposing left-wing militias (MIR) to them.
When in the summer of 1973 many strikes and uprisings threaten the stability of the country, Allende, paraphrasing John F. Kennedy said that “those who oppose a peaceful revolution makes it inevitable violent” 25 . scrabble word finder On 23 August 1973, President Salvador Allende , named Pinochet commander in chief of the armed forces following the resignation of Prats 26 , which links its decision to the many women’s protests against the government 27 .
The role of the United States [ change ]
Henry Kissinger , the Secretary of State of Richard Nixon , said in a speech on the occasion of the election of Salvador Allende: “I do not see why it would stop and watch a country go communist due to (due to the) the irresponsibility of its people. » 28
The United States seeks to undermine Allende. Credit granted by the Americans in Chile spend 300 to $ 30 million and if at the same time, using the socialist countries and European-compensates for this loss ($ 600 million in new Chrome Wire Shelving funding), Chile remains highly dependent on the United States (including spare parts) and the negative impact of this policy are many 29 .
The CIA is also active, it will have on these 3 years with a budget of seven million dollars to support the opposition to Allende. She will use it primarily to help political parties (Christian Democrats and Conservatives, who will receive half of aid), the anti-Allende newspapers ( El Mercurio , at the time the largest newspaper in the country, will benefit him Only a fifth of aid) and to a lesser extent private organizations. Paramilitary right-wing cons are neglected, Patria y Libertad will receive only 1 000 dollars between 1970 and 1971 then nothing 30 . U.S. authorities are reluctant to help the strikers anti-Allende. Support the proposal has been discussed several times in the Committee 40 (responsible for defining and controlling the activities of the CIA) but it has always been rejected. Part of the funds provided by the CIA to opposition parties and private organizations would still have been diverted by them to support the drivers 31 , 32 . Reacting to the nationalisations carried out by the Allende government, many U.S. firms whose ITT lend their support to this strategy 33 .
The Nixon administration was delighted with the coup of 1973. But, while many accusations are made, there is no evidence yet to say that the United States were directly involved in the coup itself of September 11, 1973. The report of the Commission Church of the United States Senate in 1976, concluded that the U.S. had no direct role in the event. Kissinger also argues that the U.S. maneuvers were completed at the period of time, which is confirmed by the archives. Peter Kornbluh, a researcher at the National Security Archive 34 , who participated in a campaign for the declassification of the archives of the CIA, told Libération : “If the U.S. were not directly involved in the conspiracy of September 11, 1973, they done everything to prepare the coup against Allende ” 35 .
Pinochet’s dictatorship
Articles: Coup d’etat of September 11, 1973 in Chile , Augusto Pinochet’s military dictatorship , Augusto Pinochet and Operation Condor .
Augusto Pinochet in 1974.
Augusto Pinochet in 1995 .
On 11 September 1973 , a coup led by General Augusto Pinochet , overthrew Salvador Allende, found dead in the palace of La Moneda bombed by the coup. Note that in May 2011, an investigation was initiated on conditions and the mysterious death of pseudo-suicide of Allende. The coup was welcomed with relief by some conservatives and Christian Democrats, who hope to recover quickly power. But the military junta took power and held until 1990 , imposing a dictatorship. It is led by Augusto Pinochet and is composed of the commanders of the three services and the police chief. This coup is in full view of cameras and a high profile in Europe.
The junta dissolved the National Congress, city councils, unions and political parties. Freedom of the press was abolished, the curfew established. All that is left is forbidden literature, hundreds of thousands of books are burned. The opponents were arrested, tortured, deported or executed. In seventeen years, the regime of General Pinochet is responsible for the death or disappearance of at least 2,279 people 36 , of the million exiles during this period 37 , more than 40,000 political exiles are 38 . The National Stadium is transformed into a prison camp in the open, tens of thousands of people are arbitrarily detained, concentration camps were set up 39 . The DINA , the political police of the dictatorship, the disappearance of hundreds of people.
Pinochet says the country’s economy to the theorists of the Chicago School , the Chicago boys , young Chilean economists as José Piñera and Hernán Büchi , often trained at the University of Chicago and followers of the ideas of Milton Friedman and to Arnold Harberger 40 . After a decline of GDP by 10% between 1973 and 1975 41 , growth will reach 8% per year between 1977 and 1980 42 at the cost of foreign debt and high inflation, and unemployment rises sharply. A very serious economic crisis is affecting Chile between 1982 and 1985 under the influence of the global rise of inflation , domestic inflation reached 27.3% in 1982 43 and the country is experiencing its worst recession since the 1930s 44 . From 1982 to 1984 , GDP decreased by 16% 41 . The crisis generates a series of public outcry against the political and economic liberalism. Unemployment, which affects an average of 18% of the labor force for the entire period of military rule, rises to about 30% in 1983 41 , 45 . The economy returns to the green from 1985 , to reduce the significant financial deficit accumulated at the outer end of the year 1970 and fiscal balance 41 , but the events (“Protestant”), suppressed the blood, continue casino against the dictatorship.
The transformations involved are inspired by liberal economic theory. They include the privatization of most public enterprises and reducing the size of government, through a reduction in public spending, mainly in the areas of facilities, social services and financial aid. Most banks were privatized in 1975 . In 1989 , the copper producer Corporacion Nacional del Cobre , the oil refining company Empresa Nacional del Petroleo , companies providing infrastructure services – airports, roads, ports, utilities, railroads – and the public bank Banco del Estado are the only public enterprises. The period 1 973 – one thousand nine hundred eighty-nine also sees a decline of workers’ rights with the prohibition of trade unions and the decentralization of wage bargaining. Combined with economic setbacks, erosion of social policy led to a worsening of income inequality and poverty, while investment in public infrastructure are falling behind. Moreover, as a result of economic crises, average real wages fell by 17% between 1973 and 1985 , only beginning to recover, 9%, that from 1988 – 1989 41 .
According to economist and former adviser to Allende Orlando Caputo 46 , this economic policy, in an atmosphere of political terrorism, led to a very significant decline in the share of wages in value added down 52% in 1972 to 37% in 1973 47 .
The crisis of 1,982 – one thousand nine hundred and eighty-three marks the end of the “Chilean miracle” 48 . Real wages, until then indexed for inflation, fell by 10% 49 and are 30% below their 1970 level of 50 , unemployment reached 30%, increasing poverty and growing inequalities. At the end of “Pinochet years,” 20% of the population is split 80% of the country’s wealth 51 . For the duration of the dictatorship, the average per capita consumption has never regained its 1972 level, and there is a “reduced quality of life of an important part of the Chilean population” 52 .
Chile actively participates in the Operation Condor to physically eliminate the opposition to military dictatorships. Supporters of democracy in exile, are murdered around the world: General Carlos Prats was killed in 1974 in Argentina, economist Orlando Letelier was killed in 1976 in the United States , the Christian Democrat Bernardo Leighton was seriously injured in an attack in 1975 in Italy . The Chile and Argentina clash in 1978 in the Beagle conflict for the possession of some small southern islands. This lack of conflict just to provoke a war between the two countries, and Chile will be the only country in South America to support politically the United Kingdom during the Falklands War .
From 1978 , the military junta began to establish a constitution to replace the Constitution of 1925 which is considered by the junta as the source of the institutional crisis. This is developed by the Commission Ortúzar led by Enrique Ortúzar and Jaime Guzmán .
This fundamental law contains transitional provisions and to come into effect 16 years later. It installed Pinochet as president for eight years and provided an additional eight years of military rule, with a single candidate appointed by the military authorities and was to be ratified in a plebiscite. It replaces the system of proportional representation by a binomial system in the elections and the establishment of a second round in the presidential elections and established a Constitutional Court responsible for validating the laws.
The constitution is approved after a plebiscite held on 11 September 1980 . The poll, conducted in controversial circumstances, provides for 67% Yes 53 . Pinochet was returned to power for eight years.
In 1988 , Pinochet request an extension of the term by referendum , but only obtained 44.01% approval, against 55.99% of voters who request his departure and the end of the dictatorship 54 . He then organized a gradual transition to democracy (while guaranteeing a constitutional immunity).
Return to democracy
Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet in March 2006.
Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile from 11 March 2006 to 11 March 2010 .
Sebastián Piñera , President of the Republic of Chile from 11 March 2010 .
Main article: Politics in Chile .
After the defeat of Augusto Pinochet in the plebiscite of 1988, the constitution is amended by Pinochet to force an election and to elect new senators, diminish the role of the National Security Council and put as many members of civilian and military ( four members of each set). Many politicians believe that Chilean Security Council as the remnants of the authoritarian regime. Everything is done to reform the constitution.
In December 1989 held the first round of presidential elections is the starting point of the democratic system. Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin , the candidate of the Coalition of Parties for Democracy (comprising the Christian Democratic Party, the Socialist Party, the Party for Democracy and the Social Democratic Radical Party), faces Hernán Büchi , candidate of the coalition Alianza por Chile (comprising the Independent Democratic Union and National Renewal). In February 1991 , the Truth and Reconciliation Commission , established a year earlier by Aylwin, information on violations of human rights committed by the military regime.
On 11 March 1990 , following democratic elections, Pinochet stepped down as president at Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin , elected head of a coalition – the Concertación – including the heirs of socialism of Allende. But Pinochet remains head of the army seven years.
Alywin should replace democracy, establishing a new national policy, maintain the economic health of the country (which improved cheap auto transport significantly with the return of democracy). Finally, even more important for the Chileans, the army needs to recognize violations of human rights committed during the dictatorship.
On 11 March 1994 , Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle becomes president. He was elected by the coalition of the Concertación . His government lasted six years, is characterized by the economic health of Chile with the opening of the Chilean market abroad (the years 1990-1997 are characterized by an annual growth of GDP of around 7%) . However at the end of his term, a new economic crisis affecting the country. In 1999, Chile’s GDP by 0.3% even regress, because the consequences of the Asian economic crisis .
In October 1998 , and retired senator for life, Pinochet was arrested in London following the filing of a warrant of arrest of the Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón , and put under house arrest. This has the effect of reviving tensions between different political parties in the country.
After the elections quite difficult, Ricardo Lagos became president in March 2000 (being the third president of the Concertación and the first socialist president since Salvador Allende ), in a relatively poor economic climate. Lagos became popular because it gives the green economy, sets up a number of reforms such as school free and compulsory up to 18 years, legalized divorce in 2004 . In addition, Lagos signed many treaties of free trade, mainly with the European Union and the United States 55 .
Back in Chile almost two years later (March 2000 ), General Pinochet received a warm welcome from the army and its supporters by the thousands gathered along the airport road from his home 56 , while Court proceedings are brought against him.
In 2004 , the Santiago Court of Appeal lifted the constitutional immunity of Augusto Pinochet for his responsibilities in the Operation Condor , a plan of South American dictatorships of the 1970s to eliminate their opponents. In June 2005 , he was finally acquitted by the court of appeal. The appeals filed by the families of victims are considered “inadmissible”. This release is finally confirmed on 15 September 2005 by the Supreme Court.
Socialist Michelle Bachelet was elected in the second round with 53.5% of the vote on 15 January 2006 , she took office on 11 March next. She became the first woman in history to become President of Chile. His government is characterized by an equal male / female.
General Pinochet died in a military hospital in Santiago de Chile on 10 December 2006 .
On 13 December 2009 , the first round of the presidential election saw the payday loan arrival of the leading candidate of the Coalition for Change ( right and center-right ), Sebastián Piñera , with 44.06% of the vote. The candidate of the Concertación , the former president Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle not only gets 29.60%, and the candidate from dissident socialists, Marco Enríquez-Ominami , together 20.14% of the vote. On 17 January 2010 , Sebastián Piñera was elected president with 51.61% of votes 57 . He officially took office on 11 March 2010 during a ceremony at the National Congress in Valparaíso and even as strong aftershocks occurred in the earthquake of 27 February 58
Policy

1980 Constitution
Main article: Chilean Constitution of 1980 .
Flag and the Constitution .
As stated in the Constitution Policy 1980 , Chile is a unitary state with a territory divided into 15 regions. The nation has the sovereign power, exercised through the election of representatives by popular vote or by referendum . Chile is a republican democracy .
The president has significant powers, such as to appoint senators to appoint ministers or to declare a state of war. Democratic reforms have largely occurred since amended the constitution.
Under the Constitution, the Chilean state is divided between the three traditional powers 59 :
executive power is held by the President of the Republic , democratically elected every four years by direct universal suffrage, and which can not be elected to a second successive term. Once elected, the president appoints a cabinet of ministers, including Minister of the Interior;
legislative power is represented by the National Congress , which is based in Valparaiso since the return of democracy in 1990 . This is a bicameral congress, composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies . He had forty-eight senators elected for eight years (nine of which are appointed by various institutions and is a senator for life after being president of the country – this is no longer in force since the constitutional amendments in 2005 ) and one hundred twenty deputies elected for four years. Parliamentarians are all democratically elected since 2006 in plurinominal FPTP;
the judiciary judge civil and criminal cases. It consists of a Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal and trial courts.
Life and political parties
National Congress in Valparaíso
Presidential Palace of La Moneda
Since 1990 , the country is a democracy.
There is a right-wing opposition formed by two parties: Renovación Nacional (RN), more liberal and the Democratic Union Independiente (UDI), more conservative. These two parties formed the Alliance for Chile . There is also a left-wing opposition, Juntos Podemos Más , which combines the Communist Party (PC) and parties humanists and environmentalists, who have no representation in Congress.
The main political blocs have been formed in the mid- 1980s , to defend or fight against the military regime of Augusto Pinochet, and became official in the referendum of 1988 . The following year, each block has preserved its unity to discuss the presidential election and each coalition has a candidate. Since then, despite the problems that arise from time to time within the blocks, the political landscape has not changed much.
President Bachelet is leading the fourth consecutive government of the Concertación , after the victory of the coalition in the elections of 1989 .
On 11 December 2005 , Michelle Bachelet , the Socialist candidate and the Concertación (coalition of parties of the center and left, which includes the Christian Democrats (DC), the Socialist Party (PS), the Social Democrat Radical Party (PRSD) and the Party for Democracy (PPD)), topped the first round of the presidential election with 45.96% of votes to the candidate of the National Renovation , Sebastián Piñera (25.41%), that of the Independent Democratic Union and former mayor of Santiago, Joaquin Lavin (23.23%), and that of the extreme left, Tomás Hirsch (5.40%) 60 . In the second round on January 15 , Bachelet won against Sebastian Piñera with 53.5% of votes 61 .
Voters also Denver Divorce Attorney elected one hundred twenty deputies, senators and twenty (a total of thirty-eight seats), eliminating the passing of the senators for life created by General Pinochet. Concertación has won more than 54% of parliamentary seats 62 and 57% of Senate seats, ensuring a majority in both houses.
Deeper reforms to the Constitution of 1980 were enacted in September 2005, which is seen by some as the end of the transition to democracy. These reforms perfecting the Constitution by removing so-called “locks authoritarian” left by Pinochet. Among the reforms put in place:
reducing the presidential term from six to four years;
President is empowered to put retired commanders norfolk island holidays in chief of the armed forces;
the removal of senators appointed for life (that were not elected), which results in a reduction of the Senate and thirty-eight members since March 2006 .
The binomial election system used for parliamentary and who now supports the two major political blocs, has not been changed.
Another amendment also addresses the possibility for children of Chileans (of those born in Chile and Chileans then the passport) to obtain the nationality (not having a travel document but a true Chilean passport), but not citizenship (and thus the opportunity to vote in an election). It should also be borne in mind that, to date, tens of thousands of children of Chileans were previously considered only as “non-national” (known in some countries as stateless ). Voting rights for Chileans living abroad is one of the projects still in progress. During the last presidential election December 11, 2009, Michelle Bachelet could not stand under the Constitution. The candidate of the Concertación por la Democratia is the former President Eduardo Frei . The pretender to the right Alliance for Chile , is the businessman Sebastián Piñera defeated Michelle Bachelet in 2006 . Sebastián Piñera won the elections Jan. 17, 2010. It puts an end to twenty years of center-left.
Armed Forces

Main article: Defense of Chile .
Plane F-16 of the Fuerza Aérea de Chile .
The army of the country is divided into three branches that make up the armed Fuerzas Armadas : the Ejercito (Army, founded in 1810 which has 250,000 soldiers in 2005), the Armada (Navy, founded in 1818 19 398 soldiers in 2005), and Fuerza Aérea de Chile (the Air Force, founded in 1930 , 18 000 soldiers in 2005, 63 ). This has various military airports in Iquique , Antofagasta , Santiago , Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas . It also has an airport based on the King George Island , Antarctica, and on the Easter Island . It has 10 planes F-16 in 2006, plus 28 F-16 second hand from the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
The function of the institutions mentioned above is to protect the country and the country’s interests abroad. To these are added the regular military units Fuerzas de Seguridad Pública y Orden made ​​by the bodies of the Carabineros (militarized police equivalent to the French gendarmes ) (founded in 1927 ) and the Policia de Investigaciones (civil police) (founded in 1933 ), which are the civilian force and are responsible for enforcing the law , maintain order and public security within the country. In addition, there is a body of Gendarmeria (established 1929 ), responsible for keeping the prisons and other penitentiary centers.
The Fuerzas Armadas y Carabineros administratively dependent of the Ministry of National Defense of Chile and the Fuerzas de Seguridad y Orden of the Ministry of Public Security, now the Ministry of Interior of Chile, while the body of Mounted depends administratively on the Ministry of Justice of Chile. The President of the Republic shall act as Supreme Head of Fuerzas Armada only in case of war.
Although the country has not experienced major military confrontation since the War of the Pacific , Chile devotes a significant portion of its GDP (3.8%) to equip the army. It is estimated that 3240 million U.S. dollars are used each year. This high cost is funded 10% by the profits of the company Codelco (mining company and export of copper in the country). The high level of military spending due to the fact that the military contingent to be deployed throughout the length of the country (more than 4200 kilometers), and because capital is saved for the retirement of former soldiers. Also note that the Carabineros are a body belonging to the army of the country. They use 54% of revenues from the army 64 . For several years, we talk about the suspension of military service for men 18 and older. Since 2006 , this issue is resolved primarily because the military service registration is automatic. If the numbers are not met, people will be referred to the draw.
During the regime of Pinochet , the Fuerzas Armadas had an important role in civilian life. In recent years, the Commander in Chief of the Ejercito (Army), Juan Emilio Cheyre , sets up the professionalization of the army, the president’s political army, his capacity as a neutral body (not belligerent) and acceptance of the civil power democratically constructed. An important step was the recognition of institutional responsibilities of the military in the violation of human rights during the dictatorship. This gesture is well received in the government and people. On 9 March 2006 , General Óscar Izurieta Ferrer became the Commander of the army.
Today, ziPhone Chile has various military corps (the peacekeepers ) to assist peacekeeping missions the UN in Cyprus , Bosnia , Kosovo and Haiti (the mission MINUSTAH ).

Orders and decorations of Chile
Order of Merit
Order of Bernardo O’Higgins
Order of Military Merit
Geography

Main article: Geography of Chile .
Physical Geography
Relief and geology
Topographic map of Chile.
The Atacama Desert .
Located on the Pacific coast of South America , Chile stretches over its 4300 km long, from Peru to Cape Horn , with an average width of 180 km (440 km to a maximum at latitude 52 ° 21 S and 90 km at least to latitude 31 ° 37 S north of Santiago ). Natural boundaries isolate Chile from its neighbors: it is separated from the Argentina of the Andes , from Bolivia and Peru by the Atacama desert . The total area is 756,900 square kilometers, including in the archipelago of Juan Fernández and the Easter Island . Chile also claims 1,250,000 km ² of Antarctica . The country is in a highly seismic and volcanic zone: this activity stems from the thrust of the tectonic plate of Nazca under the South American plate supporting the continent. The country is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire .
In the late Palaeozoic ( Paleozoic era ), there are 230 million years, Chile was a depression in which marine sediments had accumulated. During the Mesozoic ( secondary era ), under the pressure of the Nazca plate, the layer of sediment has folded, giving rise to the Andes. The present relief is the result of millions of years of active volcanism.
The country consists mainly of an area of ​​plains surrounded by two mountain ranges:
the Andes to the east, which marks the natural border with Bolivia and the Argentine , which rises to the Ojos del Salado (6,893 meters), the highest active volcano in the world;
Cordillera of the Coast to the West is a much lower mass which peaks at about 2000 meters.
Between the Coast Mountain Range and the Pacific is a series of coastal plains, of variable size, which allows installation population and major ports. Parts of the country have plateaus, such as the Altiplano Puna de Atacama, where the pampas and Patagonia .
The “North” is the area between the northern boundary of the country and latitude 26 ° S that includes the first two administrative regions of the country. It is characterized by intense aridity: the Atacama Desert is the driest desert in the world (in some places, no precipitation has fallen for eighty years). This wilderness includes areas such as less arid pampa del Tamarugal. In this region, the Cordillera of the Coast is massive and abrupt and often until the sea (the coastal plains are almost absent). The Andes is divided into two channels: one goes to Bolivia and is very high and volcanic, which allowed the formation of the Andean Altiplano and has many salt lakes known as the Salar de Atacama Salar due the accumulation of sediments over millions of years.
To the south is the “Petit Nord”, which extends from latitude 26 ° S until the Aconcagua (32 ° S). The Andes are beginning to be lower to the south and closer to the coast, reaching 95 km up to Illapel , the area closest the country. The two strings almost touch, eliminating depression through. The presence of rivers create valleys perpendicular to the chains in which agriculture is well developed coastal plains begin to widen.
The Central mining australia Valley is the most populated area of Chile. The coastal plains are extensive and allow the establishment of cities and ports. The elevation of the Cordillera of the Coast gradually decreases. The Andes for its part is over 6000 meters above sea level and then slowly begins to descend to 4000 meters from the Region of Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins . Depression is through a fertile valley that allows agricultural development. To the south, the Cordillera of the Coast reappears as the Cordillera Nahuelbuta, while sediments left by glaciers are the source to the border area characterized by a series of lakes.
The Patagonia extends from latitude 41 ° S to the southern tip of Chile. During the last glaciation, this place was covered by glaciers that have strongly eroded landforms. Through depression disappears under the sea and the Cordillera of the Coast gives rise to a series of islands as the islands of Chiloe and Chonos then disappears at the Peninsula Taitao , to the 47 th parallel. The Andes decreases in height. To the east of the Cordillera of the plains appear, as in the area of the Strait of Magellan off the Tierra del Fuego .
Then the Andes plunge into the ocean, gives rise to a series of islands in the Cape Horn , disappears at the Drake Passage and extends the arc of the Antilles, South Peninsula Antarctica and the Antartandes, located in the Chilean territory in Antarctica , which lies between the meridians 53 ° W and 90 ° W which is locksmith an area of 1,250,000 km ².
In the Pacific Ocean , Chile has sovereignty over the archipelago Juan Fernandez located about 700 km from Valparaiso and the Easter Island located more than 4500 kilometers from the coast of Chile. These islands are of volcanic origin, as they are in the area of friction between the Nazca Plate and the Pacific plate, which in turn led to the ridge of the eastern Pacific.
Climate [ change ]
The geography of the country very specific, narrow strip of land running on more than 4 000 km from north to south, naturally leads to a wide variety of climates (insolation more or less strong). Temperatures are rising gently from south to north, while the rainfall abundant in the South are becoming scarce when we go back to the north. Thus, the south polar ocean climate knows a fresh and very moist, while the North has a temperate desert climate. The central area around the capital, enjoying it, a Mediterranean climate 65 , 66 . Isolated some 3500 km from the Chilean coast, the Easter Island has a subtropical maritime climate characteristics. Finally, remember that Chile is in the southern hemisphere , so that the seasons are reversed compared to the Europe .
Umbrian-thermal diagrams of some cities of Chile (from north to south)
Arica Easter Island Santiago Valdivia Punta Arenas Villa Las Estrellas

18 ° 20′S 70 ° 20′W
58 meters 27 ° 09′S 109 ° 25′W
51 meters 33 ° 23′S 70 ° 47′W
475 meters 39 ° 48′S 73 ° 14′W
19 meters 53 ° 00′S 70 ° 51′W
37 meters 62 ° 12′S 58 ° 57′W
10 meters
Desert climate Subtropical climate Mediterranean climate Maritime climate Cold steppe climate Polar climate
The Humboldt Current moderates temperatures throughout the country.
In addition to latitude, two factors help explain the climate of Chile described above. On the one hand, to the east, the natural barrier that is the Andes mountain range blocks the Eastern influences, except in the north where the humid summer air from the Amazon rain brings in the Altiplano and cloud cover to the coast (this is called wet ” Bolivian winter “). denver martial arts On the other hand, to the west, the Humboldt Current , cold current (around 14 °) up the coast from south to north, tempers the country ( Antofagasta , the average annual temperature is 10 ° below that of Rio de Janeiro , a city at the same latitude but on the east coast of the continent). This current also has a crucial effect on the humidity of the country as soon as the temperature on earth is higher than that of the ocean (roughly the northern half of the country), the moisture in the air condenses (precipitation) over the ocean than on land, creating a dry or desert in the north ( Atacama Desert ). In contrast, in the southern half, the air is relatively warm ocean from the continent: the moisture will condense over land and cause heavy rain (it rains 250 times to Puerto Montt at Antofagasta ).
This regime “normal” may be altered by the phenomenon El Niño , during which the temperature of the Pacific Ocean (which washes the coast of Chile) increases: the latitude where the temperature of sea and land are equivalent then back north. The rainfall over the central part of the country, most populous, then become comparable to, most important, which usually fall to the south, sometimes causing severe flooding and damage.
Seismic hazard
Chile is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire , a chain of volcanoes that surrounds the ocean. Nothing in Chile, there are over two thousand volcanoes, of which forty-seven are still active 67 . In addition, the territory is located on the junction of two tectonic plates , tectonic plates Nazca and South American , causing a high seismic risk. Since 1900, Chile has seen four of the twenty most violent earthquakes recorded on earth. These earthquakes have fortunately not been the deadliest. Since the earthquake in Chillan in 1939, a strict seismic building is in force in the country. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated in particular by the very low impact on contemporary constructions of the earthquake of February 27, 2010. At this event, the buildings are mainly traditional adobe that were destroyed, affecting some of the architectural and historical heritage of the country. More than half of the 521 deaths were caused by the tsunami tidal wave that follows. Its occurrence was not communicated in time by the national emergency services to coastal populations, although information was available for example in North America. See detailed article earthquake of 2010 in Chile .
Hydrography
Chungará Lake and Volcano Parinacota .
River in the area of Palena.
View from the Campo de Hielo Sur , a large freshwater lake located in the southern zone of the country.
The Chilean territory is crossed by various streams which generally arise in the Andes and their markets are moving towards the Pacific Ocean (ie from east to west). However, due to the geography of the country, the rivers are developing quite low (usually less than 300 km).
The presence of the Atacama Desert in the far north of the country, explains that there are practically no river with the notable exception of the river Loa, which with a length of 443 km and its many twists and turns is the longest river in the country. In the area of the Altiplano is the bofedals that give rise to Chungará Lake , situated at an altitude of 4500 meters, and the rivers Lauca and Lluta, divided between Bolivia and Chile, which do not exceed 100 km in length .
In the central north of the country, many rivers form valleys where agriculture is practiced an important intensive. Rivers like the Elqui River with 170 km in length, the Aconcagua River with 142 km, the Maipo River with 250 km and its tributary, the river Mapocho with 120 km, and Maule , with 240 km are present in the area. They are fed by the melting snows of the Andes in summer and rainy in winter. The area has no major lakes, with the exception of Raquel artificial lake , and lake artificial Colbún , Maule of the lagoon and the lagoon of La Laja.
To the south, the number of streams increases. The Biobío River , 380 km long, located in the region of Bío-Bío part of the Cordillera in the Araucania region , through dozens of villages and has many tributaries. In this area, the country was installed hydroelectric plants . Other major rivers such as the Imperial River and the river Toltén, whose source is Lake Villarrica, through the area.
Lake Villarrica is the first of several lakes in the Andes between the region of Araucania and Lakes region . Some major lakes belong to the system of Siete Lagos as the Lake Ranco , the Puyehue lake , the lake Rupango and Lake Llanquihue , which is the second largest lake in the country in terms of scope. In the area of web hosting review Patagonia , the rivers are smaller, like the river Futaleufú, the Palena River and Baker River, while the lakes, with the exception of the President Ríos Lake located on the peninsula and Taitao Lagoon San Rafael , located at the border with Argentina , is shared between the two countries. The Lake General Carrera , together with its 970 km 2 in the Chilean territory, is the largest in the country. Other lakes such as Lake Cochrane , Lake Fagnano Lago O’Higgins and are located in Tierra del Fuego .
Fauna and Flora
Different ecosystems of Chile.
Andean Condor , national bird.
Guanaco in Atacama Desert .
Copihue .
Emperor Penguin
Temperate forest located on the foothills to Santiago .
Of the vicuñas and a rhea.
View of the Robinson Crusoe Island in the Juan Fernández Archipelago 68 .
The climate and terrain of the country strongly influence the characteristics of the ecosystem .
The area north of the country is characterized by sparse vegetation due to extreme aridity of the Atacama Desert . Trees as tamarugo, the false pepper , and the carob chañar and various species of cactus are the only plant species that can adapt to these conditions. In the area of the Altiplano , the vegetation is present, with species such as yareta and queñoa. The family of llamas , that is, the guanaco , the vicuna , the llama and alpaca , are the main animals of this place, next to smaller species such as Bizcacha and chinchilla . On some of the Altiplano lagoons frequented by flamingos . In the Petit Nord, when rainfall occurs in the month of September, the phenomenon occurs called the desert flower , drylands are then covered with various species of flowers , as añañuca. Throughout the Andes , the species best known is the Andean condor , shown in the Arms of the country .
Between the southern region of Atacama and Coquimbo region , there is a slow process of diversification of the fauna and flora, characterized by higher rainfall coastal areas of Talinay and the National Park Bosque Fray Jorge exist Patagonian forest type. In the small northern species appear Mediterranean climate as Boldo , the acacia caven the quillay and coconut Chile .
Main article: Coconut Chile .
In the central-north woodlands appear severely degraded by fire, felling for charcoal production and clearing for the agriculture . Among the characteristic species of vegetation in the Central Valley include among others the acacia caven the Boldo, per liter, the quillay, the Arrayán the Maitén the buddleia globular, the roble and Chilean coconut . The puma , the nutria , the degue Chile , the wolf of Magellan , the vine , the ibis mandola , the thrush , the White-winged and diuca tricahue loro (parrot species) are animals living in the central region.
South of the river Biobío, vegetation diversifies and becomes a Valdivian forest type. Some plant species such as guava Chile , the Copihue , national flower, ferns and various trees such as laurel , the tepa (or huahuan ), the Arrayán the Chequen the tineo , the Avellano (or hazel Chile ), various species of Podocarpus and the alerce (or Patagonian cypress ) characterize this type of forest. The puma is the largest carnivorous animal in the area and lives in most of the country, except in certain areas where it was eradicated by man. Other animal species characteristics are black-necked swan , the pampas cat (or colocolo ), the pudu and monito del monte (also known marsupial also colocolo ). One of the main environmental problems of the area is the substitution of wood by native plantations of pine and eucalyptus.
In both regions the most southern of the country, there are many forests still well watered. Trees such as cypress de las Guaitecas characterize the flora of the region. Towards the interior, develop woodland, dominated the lenga (or beech of Tierra del Fuego or white beech ) and towards the Argentine border, there are steppes , inhabited by guanacos , rheas , foxes, pumas, etc.. In this area, is developing the breeding of sheep and cattle in the various haciendas . The huemul , present on the national coat of arms, had once lived in the country, these days he lives in some areas difficult to access.
Finally, in the extreme south, the vegetation is reduced to a few small trees and robust, as Drimys de Winter (or cinnamon Magellan ), the beech of Magellan and the RPS (or Antarctic beech ) and a few shrubs , herbaceous species, from mosses and lichens .
The Chilean territory in Antarctica , is largely frozen permanently and only mosses and lichens can grow there. However, the fauna from the east coast of exceptional richness.
The coast of the country has many species of birds such as gulls , the pelican , the cormorant and the albatross . We also found several species of penguins as the Humboldt penguin and penguin de Magallanes. At sea, we encounter a wide variety of cetaceans : bottlenose dolphins to Coquimbo and whales in the region of Magallanes. The bar is typical of the entire Chilean coast and there are also typical species: the Fitzroya , the hake , the anchovies , the Congridae , particularly common species of the Chilean coast. Shellfish and molluscs such as clams , the mussel and oyster , are abundant. The salmon and trout , introduced into the country, are today the main fish species present in Chilean rivers.
In the island territories, fauna and flora are unique. While in the Easter Island tree feature, the toromiro , has virtually disappeared, the Juan Fernández archipelago has over 200 unique plant species such as palm chonta and animal species as the ski accessories hummingbird robinson and the Seals Southern fur .
Administrative geography
Regions of Chile.
Regions and provinces of Chile
Chile map with major cities
Since 1976 , Chile is administratively divided into thirteen regions , which are subdivided into provinces , which in turn are divided into communes . In 2007 Chile, created two new administrative regions, it has therefore now fifteen.
At the head of each region is a steward while the provinces are headed by a provincial governor. Each province is divided into comunas (municipalities) run by a mayor . The stewards and governors are appointed by the provincial president, mayors are elected by the citizens.
The regions are designated by a Roman numeral and a name. Numbers are assigned from north to south. Chileans tend to use more than the number name. The region of Santiago is an exception and has no corresponding number, it is designated by the initials RM ( Región Metropolitana ).
XV: Region of Arica and Parinacota ( Arica )
I: Region of Tarapacá ( Iquique ).
II Region of Antofagasta ( Antofagasta ) .
III Region of Atacama ( Copiapo ).
IV Region of Coquimbo ( La Serena ).
V Region of Valparaíso ( Valparaíso ) including the Easter Island and electronic cigarette Juan Fernández Archipelago.
RM: Santiago Metropolitan Region ( Santiago, Chile ).
VI: Region of Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins ( Rancagua ).
VII Maule Region ( Talca ).
VIII: Region of Bío-Bío ( Concepción ).
IX: Araucania Region ( Temuco ).
XIV: Rivers Region ( Valdivia )
X: Lake District ( Puerto Montt )
XI Aysen Region del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo ( Coyhaique ).
XII Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica ( Punta Arenas ).
In October 2005 , the Chilean government has studied the bill for the creation of two new regions: XV Region of Arica and Parinacota , with Arica as the capital, as current division of the Region of Tarapacá. The XIV Rivers Region , with Valdivia as its capital, as a division of the current region of Los Lagos 69 . The same bill proposes the creation of two new provinces, ” El Tamarugal “in the (new) Region of Arica and Parinacota and” Ranco “in the new” Rivers Region “. Another project aims to eliminate the numbering of the regions, which come into force on 1 st January 2008 . On 19 December 2006 , the Chilean Congress accepted the law. On 2 October 2007 , the Region of los Ríos was created. The Region of Arica y Parinacota was effective on October 9 , 2007.
Land borders
The country has borders with:
the Argentine : 5,150 km;
the Bolivia : 861 km;
the Peru : 160 km.
Economy

Main article: Economy of Chile .
Years Total GDP (millions USD) GDP per capita (USD) Total GDP PPP (million USD) GDP per capita (PPP USD) Exports (million USD) (FOB) Imports (million USD) (CIF)
2009 STD Testing 135.773 7.994 14.461 54943.9 50990.8
2008 169.573 10,147 14.510 67788.9 52565.8
2007 154,756.0 9617 14,400
2006 145,996.0 9071 209,363 13,099 59995.5 35973.8
2005 115,295.1 7088 208,189 12,798 39536.1 30300.1
2004 94997.5 5847 184,037 11,436 32024.9 23005.8
2003 73682.49 4608 167,660 10,532 21523.6 18001.7
2002 67236.13 4270 155,651 9885 18179.8 15794.2
2001 68623.41 4407 150,361 9656 18271.8 16428.3
2000 75297.05 4890 141,713 9362 19210.2 17091.4
1999 72978.07 4802 132,732 8734 17162.3 14735.1
1998 79368.42 5292 131,842 8791 16322.8 18363.1
1997 82820.84 5597 126,315 8537 17870.2 19297.8
1996 75778.2 5192 116,549 7985 16626.8 17698.7
1995 65214.29 4530 96,365 6694 16039.0 15914.1
1994 50910.61 3597 85,223 6022 11604.0 11824.6
1993 44463.75 3197 78,944 5676 9199.0 11125.4
1992 41867.76 3064 72,123 5278 10008.0 10128.6
1991 34660.92 2582 62,792 4678 8941.0 8093.0
1990 30344.96 2303 56,191 4264 8373.0 7677.0
Santiago Stock Exchange.
Although the Sixth Latin American economy in terms of nominal GDP behind the Brazilian , the Mexican , the Venezuela , the Argentine and Colombia , Chile is now considered the world’s most stable economy in Latin America 70 . With a disastrous economic past have experienced many dictatorships, the country has become today the “model” of the region, the only one who has managed, for example, to reduce poverty by half over the last fifteen years, (c ‘ is also why we call it the “jaguar” of South America). Over the last twenty-four years, the average annual growth of GDP of Chile was 5.2% and even 8.3% between 1990 and 1997. For the year 2009 , the country’s finance minister, Andres Velasco, expected growth GDP of about 2 to 3% 71 . The growth rate was actually negative (- 1.5%) due to the global crisis, but the country has much to resist 72 . In the second quarter 2010, the country’s GDP grew 6.4% 73 .
Today, Chile has an open market in the world. Its economy is characterized by the export and import of raw materials. During 2005, total exports exceeded 39.5 billion U.S. dollars. Exports rose by half that year. These main customers are in order of importance the European Union , the United States , the South Korea , the agreement P4 and China . Chile is a member of APEC (Treaty of the Pacific), an associate member of MERCOSUR (free trade treaty between the countries of South America) and joined the OECD on 12 January 2010 .
Imports reached $ 30.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2005. Its GDP has increased year by 6.3% reaching 115.3 billion U.S. dollars or 14,900 dollars per capita in 2010. Chile therefore has the GDP per capita the highest in Latin America, just behind the Argentina , the latter being the richest nation of Latin America 74 .
Growth rate of GDP of Chile, 1961-2008
The Alameda , central artery of Santiago
Agriculture and livestock are the main activities of tailor made suits the central and the south. The export of fruits and vegetables reached historic levels as the market opens up to European and Asian markets since the 1990s. Chile is also experiencing strong growth in the field of fisheries. Thus, the country became the largest exporter of salmon in excess of the levels of Norway in 2006. There are many salmon farms established in the beds of rivers in southern Chile 75 . Chile is the fifth largest exporter of wine in the world, it has the oldest vineyards in many European countries since the first vines were planted in 1541.
Port of Valparaíso
The Chilean industry is mostly local, with the notable exception of the production of fish meal. The latter is concentrated in the metropolitan area, Valparaiso and Concepcion . For twenty years, the government is trying to boost the food industry. And about the year 2010, Chile will be a serious contender in this field. Moreover, the country has become a kind of platform for foreign companies in Latin America. So many companies have their headquarters in Santiago or in the region. The country has a significant presence of companies in the service sector.
The economic health of Chile is recognized in the study countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published on 4 November 2005 . It appears that economic dynamism has enabled a rapid rise in living standards with a GDP per capita increased from 2,340 dollars in 1990 to over 5000 dollars in 2004, while income per capita adjusted for power parity purchase in 2005 represents less than 40% of the average level of OECD countries and less than 30% of the U.S. 76
The fiscal policy follows a rule of a virtuous structural balance surplus of more than 1% of GDP. Thus, Chile’s public finances showed a surplus of 2.2% of GDP in 2004, and about 3% in 2005 77 .
Liberal economy , Chile has increased the poverty rate from 50% in 1987 to 18.8% in 2003 78 and the country was the first Latin American country to achieve and exceed the goals of the 2000 Poverty Reduction . Despite advances in this area and raising the living standards of all people, Chile has always a very unequal income distribution and it is also placed 16 th worst ranking for the inequalities of wealth in the world. wedding rings Therefore, considering a poverty line defined relative to average living standards, an important part of the Chilean population is below this threshold. The subject of inequality was part of discussions between the presidential candidates for the elections of December 2005. In addition, the country still has the lowest employment rate for women in Latin America with 40% of working women. In addition, there is a big difference in pay between men and women (about one-third for the same job and the same qualification).
Raw
Chuquicamata , the open pit the largest in the world.
Main article: Agriculture in Chile .
Agriculture of Chile has a highly diversified production because of its geography , its climate , human factors and its geological special. Historically, the agriculture is one of the foundations of the Chilean economy , but today agriculture and related sectors such as forestry and fishing accounted for only 4.9% of GDP in 2007 and employed 13, 6% of the workforce in the country. The main agricultural products of Chile are the grape , the apple , the pear , the onion , the wheat , the corn , the oats , the fish , the garlic , the asparagus , the beans , the beef , the chicken the wool , the fish and hcg diet wood . Because of its geographic isolation and strict control of trade to customs , Chile is spared diseases such as mad cow Relevant Life Policies disease and phylloxera . In addition, Chile has the advantage of being located in the southern hemisphere , and to produce in-season against a wide range of products through various climatic conditions. However, the relief limit the extent and intensity of agriculture and farmland .
The country’s main export is copper with 36% of the world 79 . Chile is the world leader in this field and extracted 2,940,184 free auto insurance quotes tons of copper in 2009, almost half produced by the site Radomiro Tomic and Chuquicamata (10 km from Chuquicamata). But it also exports of silver and the gold in smaller quantities. These raw materials are extracted in the Atacama Desert in the north. The extraction of copper continues to be an important part in exports. Indeed, 30% of exports are copper (against 60% in 1970). The company Codelco Chile has one of the largest mines in the world (for copper) as Chuquicamata and El Teniente, Caletones, Potrerillo, Las Ventanas. Copper mining is the main source regions Taracapá, Antofagasta and Atacama (the three regions of the Atacama Desert).
In the region of Magellan (around Punta Arenas ), exploitation of oil fields is an important part in domestic transport (30% oil in Chile is national). However, in its exports, do not forget the export of stone Lapis Lazuli (2 e exporter) used in the manufacture of jewelry and the export of guano (first) used it as fertilizer .
Related article: Oil industry .
Tourism
Moai – Easter Island
Beach in Vina del Mar , the Ciudad Jardín (Garden City), tourist capital of the country.
The International Festival of Viña del Mar Song, is one of the most important musical events of Latin America .
Since the year 1990 , the tourism in Chile has become a major economic resources, especially in the extreme regions of the country (northern Atacama Desert, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in the south). During 2005, it increased by 13.6%, generating over 1 360 chiropractic marketing million U.S. dollars (or 1.33% of GDP).
According SERNATUR 80 , two million people visit Chile each year. This figure is still good if compared to those of Brazil or Mexico . The majority of these visitors come to the continent, mainly from the Argentine . However, in recent years, the number of visitors from Spain, France, Germany is steadily increasing (sometimes these countries offer direct flights to Chile nonstop). Europeans account for 400,000 visitors in 2005.
The main tourist places are places of extreme natural beauty areas. San Pedro de Atacama in the north of the country is visited by foreigners to admire the original architecture Inca, the lagoons of the altiplano, the Valle de la Luna acclaimed for its strangeness and the Tatio geysers. Nearly Putre in the far north, enjoy the lake Chungará and Parinacota volcano located in the Lauca National Park to over 4500 meters above sea level is appreciated. In the southern zone, the main tourist attractions are the archipelago of Chiloe , the Patagonia , the San Rafael Lagoon and glaciers and the National Park Torres del Paine . Finally, the mysterious Easter Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is probably the most popular tourist destination for Westerners because of its exotic compared to the mainland 81 .
At the national level, tourism is concentrated during the summer, mainly in resorts like Arica , Iquique, Antofagasta, La Serena and Coquimbo in the north. Valparaiso region receives the largest number of tourists as Viña del Mar with its proximity to Santiago. Viña del Mar is known as the “tourist capital of Chile,” with its beautiful beaches. Each year, takes place on February Song Festival of Viña del Mar pay day loan , important musical event in Latin America .
Energy
Chile is a net importer of energy. Indeed, it does not have large energy reserves. For example, about 228 000 barrels How to lose weight of oil consumed per day, only 4000 are from the deposits of the country. The price of oil depends on international trade and market conditions. Similarly, almost all natural gas imported from Argentina .
Consumption of electricity has exceeded 51 573 GWh in the year 2005 of which 54% are produced by hydroelectric plants. In the country, there are four power systems: the Interconnected System of Norte Grande, the Central Interconnected System and Aysen and Magallanes systems. The hydropower potential is still little used. The country uses 20% of potential capacity (willingness to protect the flora and fauna of the region of Aysen). There is currently no nuclear power plant, however, in 2006 opened the debate on the technical feasibility of using this type of energy. The introduction of wind turbines and the use of geothermal energy are also envisaged by the country.
Transport and telecommunications
The geography of the country characteristic that transport networks and telecommunications are of considerable importance.
The country accounts for 364 airstrips such as airports Chacalluta of Arica, Iquique Diego Aracena, Cerro Moreno Antofagasta, Concepción Carriel Sur, El Tepual of Puerto Montt , Punta Arenas President Ibañez, Mataveri to Easter Island, and the International Airport Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez Santiago (one of the most modern on the continent, the seat of the national carrier LAN Airlines ).
Entel telecommunications tower, opened in September 1974 and measuring over 130 meters high. It is located in Santiago . Here view towards the Andes .
Chile has 6 585 km of track. These have once been important to the development of the country, but today, the railways are used primarily to transport cargo to ports since the crisis of the 1970s . Currently, the government wants to redevelop the train by restoring passenger service from EFE 82 between Santiago and Puerto Montt . On the contrary, the metro is growing significantly with the Valparaiso Merval, in Concepción the Biotrén 83 and Santiago (over 100 km of lines).
Metro de Santiago de Chile .
For road traffic, the country has a network of more than 79 000 km of roads are paved 10 000 84 . Since the year 1990 , over 2 500 kilometers of highways were built (Pan-American Highway between Arica and Chiloe Island). The Carretera engagement rings Austral connects the region of Aysen in the rest of the country and is almost complete. The most important customs posts are those of Chacalluta and Tambo Quemado, which serve as the borders with Peru and Bolivia . There are forty customs posts with the Argentine , the free ipad most important are those of the Cristo Redentor between Los Andes and Mendoza .
The number of fixed telephone lines exceeds 3.5 million, and over 12 million people own a mobile phone (76% of the Chilean population) in January 2006 85 . Chile and the Latin American countries with the most mobile phones as a percentage of population (it was introduced to the country in 1997 ) 86 .
Foreign Trade
Economic relations with the United States [ change ]
Since the return to democratic trade relations with the United States appear to be excellent. Indeed, the Free Trade Agreement United States-Chile was signed on 6 June 2003 , ratified by the House of Representatives on 24 July 2003 following a vote of 270 for and 156 against and ratified by the Senate on 31 July 2003 after giving another vote for 65 and 32 against 87 . President George W. Bush signed the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act on 3 September 2003 88 . This treaty is implemented by the two countries since 1 st January 2004 .
Economic relations with the European Union
Chile has had an association agreement with the EU in November 2002, which increased the flow of trade, the trade still remain, however modest, due to two falls of activity in 2002 ( global economic slowdown) and 2003 (loss of price competitiveness of European products, partly because of a Euro too strong).
European suppliers are primarily Germany and France (10 th global provider of Chile, a relatively small market Cell Phone Accessories share of 2.5% in 2005), European customers are primarily the Netherlands and Italy and France (9 th client) 89 .
Some economic statistics
Annual growth rate: 6.1% in 2004, 6.3% in 2005 90
Annual inflation rate: 2.4% in 2004, 3.7% in 2005 90
Unemployment rate in 2005: 8% 90
Human Development (2005): 0.854 (37 th rank in the world) 90
Population below poverty line : 18.2% in 2005 (source: CIA ) (and less than 2% living on less than a dollar a day).
Population

Demographics
Main article: Population of Chile .
Evolution of the Chilean population ( 1820 – 2050 .)
Population Pyramid in 2008.
Chile has an estimated population of 16.8 million inhabitants in 2008 . The latest census carried out in full in 2002 , the figures are 15,116,435, of whom 7,447,695 are men and 7,668,740 for women 91 .
Chile’s population has increased fivefold during the XX th century: the end of the XIX th century, there were 2,695,625 people, 5,023,539 in 1940 and 13,348,341 in 1992 . The population growth rate of the Chilean population, however, significantly decreased to 1.24% in the period 1992 – 2002 and is expected to decline further in coming years.
Due to the improvement of living conditions, the life expectancy of Chileans (which is the highest of Latin America ) is 76.77 years on average 92 , while the rate of infant mortality fell to 7.8 ‰ . The birth rate in 2003 reached its historical low by going to 15.23 ‰ and that the mortality rate to 5.1 ‰ , with a natural growth rate of 10 ‰ 93 . These figures show an aging population. In 20 years, the population 40 and over will exceed that of the age of 40. Thus, the age pyramid will be around the year 2025, with a bell-profile representing the demographic transition experienced by the country. File:
Most citizens are of European , mainly Spanish Basques and Castilians . There are also many descendants of immigrants from the British and Irish who arrived in Chile during the colonial period. Immigration Germany , sponsored by the Chilean government began in 1848 and has gradually changed the cultural landscape of much of the southern region of Chile, which still shows a strong German influence . Many other groups corporate clothing of immigrants from from Italy , of Croatia , of Switzerland , of Palestine , of Greece and France ( Michelle Bachelet , General Pinochet ) emigrated to Chile.
Ethnography
Ethnicity Native Americans ( 2002 94 )
Alacalufes 2622 0.02% Mapuche 404,349 3.00%
Atacama 21,015 0.14% Quechua 6175 0.04%
Aymara 48,501 0.32% Rapa Nui 4647 0.03%
Colla 3198 0.02% Yamana 1685 0.01%
Chile is a mixture of different ethnic groups, mainly the descendants of European settlers 95 , 96 , 97 . Represent approximately 52.7% of the population, while the Metis and Metis-white represents about 44% 98 , 99 . The waves of immigrants from European countries arrived in Chile in the late XIX th century and early others, and a small number of immigrants from the Middle East .
There are many French descendants . Renowned in the country such as Pinochet , family Discount Judaica products shopping Saint-Malo who emigrated to Concepción in one thousand seven hundred eighteen one hundred And Bachelet . Moreover, the Nutrisystem coupons 2012 French culture strongly influenced the Chilean culture , especially in light style buildings Haussmann in the center of Santiago and the bread called marraqueta which was invented by brothers Marraquet, the French, who in the early TWENTIETH century have invented this bread based on the rod 101 .
According to Census 2002 , 3.2% of the Chilean population was Indian 102 .
Census year 103 Total Births of children of immigrants Percentage of immigrants relative to the total population Percentage of Europeans to the total of immigrants Percentage of Latin American immigrants to total immigrants Percentage of immigrants from the Middle East and the other to total immigrants.
1865 1,819,223 51.982 3.21% 53.7% 41.4% 4.9%
1875 2,075,971 125.199 9.21% 62.3% 33% 4.7%
1885 2,057,005 87.077 4.23% 30.1% 67.2% 2.7%
1907 3,231,496 132.312 4.5% 53.3% 42.7% 4.0%
1920 3,731,593 114.194 3.06% 80.6% 10.5% 8.9%
1930 4,287,445 505.463 14.46% 68.1% 11.5% 15.4%
1940 5,023,539 407.273 8.14% 78.2% 10.7% 11.1%
1952 5,932,995 703.878 12.75% 65.9% 13.4% 20.7%
1960 7,374,115 504.853 5.4% 60.9% 26.1% 13.0%
1970 8,884,768 390.441 6.02% 53.3% 34.4% 12.3%
1982 11,275,440 284.445 2.5% 41.8% 44.5% 13.7%
1992 13,348,401 114.597 0.86% 20.1% 65.1% 14.8%
2002 15,116,435 184.464 1.22% 17.2% 71.8% 11.0%
2008 16,680,000 488.260 3.82% 38.6% 51.4% 10.0%
Total Births to immigrant children 16.800.000 (2009) 2,606,846 8.2% 58.3% 33.2% 8.5%
Icebreakers in port, 50% of the population of Punta Arenas would be descendants of Croats .
There are six countries where the majority of new immigrants settled in the past 150 years, which made ​​them more difficult to form its own identity: the Australian , the New Zealand , the South Africa , the Argentina , the Chilean and the Uruguay . Interbreeding with populations previously installed was made ​​later 104 . Immigrants have contributed significantly to the evolution of society and identity in Chile. Families of origin Basque came from Spain and southern France . Those who emigrated to Chile in the XVIII th century developed economy and joined the old aristocracy Castilian to become the political elite that still dominates the country. Chileans Basque ancestry is 10% (1.6 million) and 27% (4.5 million) of the Chilean population 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 . The non-Hispanic immigrants from Europe arrived in Chile, mainly in the north and south ends of the country during the XIX th and XX th centuries, including English , the Germans , the Irish , the Italians , the English , the Croats and other ex- Yugoslav . The prevalence of surnames European non-Hispanic in Chile today is the mark of their contribution and their major influence on the country. It is also worth mentioning that the Croats , whose number of descendants in Chile is estimated at between 380,000 and 500,000 people. It is the second country where immigration was the most important Croatian 110 , 111 ; more personalities Chilean ancestry Croatian as Antonio Skármeta and Andronico Luksic do not deny their origins. A community Palestinian is also present, the latter being the largest community of this origin outside the Arab world 112 , 113 , 114 . The volume of immigrants from neighboring countries of Chile during the same period was also important.
Typical house of German settlers in southern Chile near Puerto Varas in the Lakes Region .
After independence and during the Republican era, the descendants of English and of Irish (700,000) 115 , the Italians , the French traders settled in the cities of Chile, which contributed to the development of these it. They often joined the economic and political elite of the country. In 1848 , a significant and substantial immigration of Germans held. Since they are firmly established in the south to Valdivia . They were sponsored by the Chilean government who wanted to colonize the southern region. The Germans (including in Swiss , German-speaking Swiss , Silesians , Alsatians and Austrians ) have clearly influenced the cultural composition of the southern part of Chile. The second half of the XIX th century was exceptional. A small number of displaced persons of Europe from the East, Jews and Christians Syrians and Palestinians who fled the Ottoman Empire, arrived in Chile. Today they are the backbone of small manufacturing companies. The Greeks have also immigrated to Chile and have formed a remarkable ethnic identity 116 . Greeks are estimated to be between 90 000 and 120 000 117 . Most of them live either in the region of Santiago or the region of Antofagasta . Chile is one of five countries in the world with the most descendants of Greek 118 . In addition, estimated there would be 600,000 descendants of Italians and 800 000 French 119 . Other origins Europe are also represented, but in small proportion.
The Immigration Union, and to a lesser extent, the Middle East, during the second half of the XIX th and early XX th century (which corresponds to large “waves of immigration” in America), after immigrants to the South Atlantic coast (which are the Argentina , the Uruguay and southern Brazil ), was the largest of Latin America is favored mainly by heavy traffic. [unclear] Many Europeans have settled in the south to electric cigarette Concepción . Until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1920, merchant ships had to pass through the Cape Horn to arrive on the west coast of North America.
A view of downtown Santiago, from the hill of San Cristobal.
Emigration has declined in recent years. It is estimated that 857,781 Chileans and their descendants living abroad which would be 50.1% in Argentina , 13.3% in the United States , 8.8% in Brazil , 4.9% in Sweden , and a little more 2% in Australia . In the country, the migration is massive on the part of farmers to the cities of the country. The central-south of the country are more than 80% of people born outside the region: 86.11% for the Region of Bío-Bío , 71% for the metropolis of Santiago and 55% for the Region of Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctic .
Urbanization
Santiago, Chile
The latest census, 13,090,113 Chileans live in urban areas, representing 86.59% of the national population. Only 13.41% of the population lives in rural areas. They live mainly in the agriculture and the livestock , which are concentrated in the south-central areas in the regions of Maule Region (33.59%), the Region of Valparaíso
Punta Arenas .
(32.33%) and the Lake District (31.56%). The Tarapacá saw 94.06% of its population live in cities in the region of Tarapacá , 97.68% in the Region of Antofagasta , 92.6% in the region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica ) and the region Metropolitan Santiago and the Region of Valparaíso , with respectively 96.93% and 91.56%.
Cavancha, Iquique
Since the 1920s, the rural exodus is intensive because of the desire to escape the poverty of the countryside and find better living conditions in town. Thus, from that time, the cities and conurbations see their populations increase significantly. The capital of the country, Santiago de Chile or Santiago Grand has 5,428,590 inhabitants in 2002 , representing 35.9% of the national population. In 1907 , there were only 383 587 inhabitants, 549 292 in 1920 representing 16% of the country. However, during the following decades, the population explosion is absorbing the old rustic places, like Puente Alto and Maipu , which are the two most populous municipalities in Chile, Chile. Santiago is a modern city, is the sixth most populous city of Latin America and the forty-fifth of the world.
Vina del Mar
Valparaíso and Viña del Mar has become a major conurbation . We must also add the cities of Concón , Quilpué and Villa Alemana that form the Grand Valparaíso , and exceed the 800 000 inhabitants. Concepción , Talcahuano , Hualqui, Chiguayante and San Pedro de la Paz are the third city in the country with over 600 000 inhabitants according to the latest census (2002). In recent years, the Grand Concepción integrate common Coronel, Lota and Tomé.
Puerto Varas
Other common ( comunas ) by size of population is Antofagasta (with 285 255 inhabitants), Rancagua (with 236,363), Iquique (with
214,559), Arica (with 203,804), Talca (with 202,961), Chillán (with 184,832), Puerto Montt (with 175,938), Los Angeles (with 166,556), Coquimbo (with 163,036), La Serena (with 160,148), Osorno (with 152,559) and Valdivia (with 141 967 inhabitants). The majority of cities are located on either coast or in the Central Valley of the country between Santiago and Puerto Montt .
Market and downtown Valdivia
According to the latest census of 2002 , Chile currently has more than 15 million people. However, the central zone, located between the cities of La Serena and Concepción, concentrates 78% of the total population of the country, Santiago and its surroundings includes 40% of Chileans, six million people. The average density (20 inhabitants / km 2 ) is not representative of the actual occupation of the territory. According to the census, between 1992 and 2002 , the average annual growth rate of the population was 1.24%, the lowest in Latin America. Over the same period, the fertility rate is 2.2 children per woman.
Temuco
Despite a decline in the birthrate , Chile remains a relatively young country: 34% of Chileans age 20, and 15% are over 55. However, as developed countries, Chile’s population tends to Medifast coupons age rapidly: the youngest layer of the population has decreased, while the older is increasing, partly due to a life expectancy at birth over long: 77 years (80 women and 74 men). The average Chilean family consists of 3.6 people.

Major metropolitan areas of Chile
Major metropolitan areas of Chile (2002)
Denomination Region People Area Density
A Greater Santiago R. Metropolitana 6061185 867.75 km 2 6255.9
2 Grand Valparaíso V Región 803 683 229.98 km 2 3494.6
3 Grand Concepción VIII Región 666 381 221.15 km 2 3013.3
4 Grand La Serena IV Región 302 131 107.41 km 2 2758.2
5 Antofagasta II Región 285 255 43.54 km 2 6551.6
6 Grand Temuco IX Región 266 225 53.23 km 2 4901.0
80% of the Chilean population lives in the central area of the country. This area covers Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer over 1000 miles and runs from La Serena to Concepcion . The climate of this area are semi-arid climate (La Serena) to the Mediterranean climate in oceanic influence (Concepción). Basically this place is the Mediterranean climate of the southern hemisphere 120 .
Social classes
Since the founding of the country, the population of Chile is divided into classes of varying degrees. Since the middle of the xx th century, the country is made ​​up mainly by the middle class . However, the standard of living of the middle class does not correspond to average workers in Latin America, including the GDP national high enough and easy access to the credit system. Despite good economic indicators and the significant decline in poverty from 38.6% of the population in 1990 to 18.8% in 2003 121 , the country has a serious flaw: the unequal distribution of wealth. This has the effect of creating a social divide between rich and poor net.
Vitacura, upscale neighborhood of Santiago.
According to reports on human development of the UN in 2005 , Chile has a Gini coefficient of 0.57, placing it at the 113 th place out of 128 in the list of countries by income equality . This inequality is difficult to overcome. Today, the 20% of the country’s richest earn 14.3 times that received Bankruptcy by the poorest 20% of 122
Religion
Cathedral of Santiago
On the religious level, the last census in 2002 shows that 70% of Chileans say they are Catholic or 7,853,428 persons over fourteen years (less than half is practicing). Compared to the previous census in 1992, this is a 10% decrease in 10 years. The remaining 30% are evangelical Protestants (15.14%), 1.06% are Jehovah’s Witnesses , 0.92% are LDS and 0.5% (75 000) 123 confession Jewish . The atheist , agnostic or no religion account for 10% of the total. By marital status, 46% of Chileans over 18 years married, 5% less than in 1992 . In contrast, couples cohabiting increased from 5% in 1992 to 9% in 2002 . Chileans are 34% to be single, divorced 5%. The evolution of these figures is to follow, given the new divorce law in effect since late 2004.
The Catholic Church is separated from the state since 1925 , when President Arturo Alessandri and Archbishop Crescente Errázuriz reached an agreement on this issue resulting in the constitution of 1925 at the end of the end of the status of religion State of Catholicism, which had existed since the country’s independence in 1818. Since 1925, the freedom of worship is also recognized. However, even if Catholicism becomes less important in recent years, it still influences today’s society on issues such as divorce and the abortions in 2004-2005.
Education system
The Chilean education system consists of four levels. First, there is the educación parvularia which is not compulsory and which cares for children from three months to six years. The French equivalent is the nursery and kindergarten . It is structured on three levels. First there is the Sala Cuna (nursery) for children three months to two years. Then comes the medio Nivel (small section) for children two to four years, and finally the Nivel Transición (large section) for children four to six years. At this latter level, children begin to learn reading and calculating.
Then there is compulsory education for children from six to eighteen years corresponding to primary education ( Educación General Básica ) and secondary ( la Educación Media ).
The General Educación botox brisbane Básica exists for children and for adults not been to school (increasingly rare). All children who are celebrating their sixth year before March 31 must include the first level (the school year starting in early March and ending in early December. There are two weeks in auto insurance quotes July during the austral winter).
This level is divided into two cycles. The first round goes primero básico to cuarto básico (from six to ten years). The second round goes quinto básico in octavo básico (or ten years to fourteen years).
With regard to adults, three years of study are needed. Each year corresponds to a level. The first level concerns the first stage of Educación básica . The second level corresponds to the quinto (fifth or the CM2 French) sexting (the sixth French sixth) básico . The last level includes Septimo (seventh or the fifth French) and octavo (the eighth is the fourth French) básico .
Then there is the Educación media equivalent of high school French. It has four levels and is divided into two types of channels, the general and technical education ( EMHC ) and Vocational Education ( EMTP equivalent vocational school French). In the EMHC , education is general. It includes Spanish, history, geography, mathematics, science, EPS, a foreign language … It consists of two levels. The first includes primer and medio segundo . The second cycle includes tercer and medio cuarto .
In the EMTP , adolescents attending vocational courses in the industrial, agricultural, marine and services. At the end of these studies, young people can go to work in selected areas.
Aerial view of the Catholic University in Santiago .
Formerly, compulsory education was confined to a basic cycle of 8 years. But since 7 May 2003 124 , a constitutional reform carried out under the government of President Ricardo Lagos , made ​​secondary education free and compulsory for all Chileans until the age of eighteen years. The State guarantees thus compulsory education for twelve years. Chile is the first country in Latin America to have achieved this obligation for the duration of education 125 .
Higher education is characterized by three types of institutions created by the 1981 reform:
Façade of the Universidad de Chile located in Santiago.
The Centros de Formación Técnica ( CFT ), a two-year term after which students receive the title of technician level;
The Institutos Profesionales ( IP ), which is obtained as a senior technician and professional qualifications in areas that do not require the title of Licensee .
The universities that provide access to all areas of academic degrees and professional licensed , master and doctorate .
The Instituciones de Educación Superior de las Fuerzas Armadas y Orden latter, newly created, provides access to titles and academic degrees.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Chile .
Chile is the land of poets , according to popular tradition. This follows from the place held in history, by writers producing operas. Artists such as Chilean Nicanor Parra (known for his anti poetry), Vicente Huidobro , Jorge Teillier , Enrique Lihn , Gonzalo Rojas , Cristián Berrios, Gabriela Mistral (nostalgia), and Pablo Neruda (the commitment) show the place held by the poetry. Two Chileans were awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature : Gabriela Mistral in 1945 and Pablo Neruda in 1971 126 .
Pablo Neruda in 1966.
In the field of prose, it is authors like Francisco Coloane , Manuel Rojas , Luis Sepulveda , Alberto Blest Gana , Isabel Allende , Jorge Edwards , José Donoso , Roberto Bolaño , which are remarkable. Do not forget Marcela Paz , known by its characteristic character Papelucho . But it Pepo, designer of cartoons, which through Condorito , created the most famous fictional character of the country.
Folk music inspired by both Indian melodies and those coming from Spain . The cueca , traditional dance of Chile, is a good example, each region has its own version. During the 1970s, folk music enjoyed a new popularity thanks to the movement of the Nueva Canción Chilena which make up artists on themes inspired by both traditional tunes of the country and their own research. Víctor Jara , Violeta Parra , Los Jaivas , Inti Illimani , Quilapayún , Illapu artists are representative of this movement. The singer and tireless researcher in the field of musical folklore of Chile, Margot Loyola is another important artist of folk music and Plastic Storage Containers popular contemporary Chile.
Festival of Viña del Mar Chile.
Since the 1970s, appeared pop-rock artists, inspired by the North American culture, such as Los Prisioneros , Lucybell , Los Mox … Usually the pop-rock Chile differs from other Latin American countries by the melancholy tone of his songs and lyrics sad and pessimistic.
Identity and tradition
Despite the country’s ethnic homogeneity, cultural expressions vary significantly from one region to another. The north is characterized by the influence of Andean cultures of Native Americans and the Conquistadors and the religion Catholic (festivals such as Fiesta de La Tirana …). The central area is characterized by its rural traditions. It is considered that these parts of the country, bringing together most of the population, are the source of the cultural identity of Chileans. Of important holidays such as Independence taking place Sept. 18 show the strong patriotism of Chileans.
Mapuche culture predominates in the region of Araucania . Temuco nearly a quarter of the Mapuche in the country about 150 000 people. In cities such as Valdivia , Osorno , Puerto Varas and Llanquihue , German influences are felt (settlers have settled into the second half of the xix th century to populate the region following the government’s appeal). The island of Chiloé (south of Puerto Montt ) has a rich culture that has its own mythology. The regions of the far south are influenced by Slavic cultures, especially Croatian (40% of the people of Punta Arenas are descended from settlers Yugoslavia).
Easter Island has a specific culture of Polynesian origin.
However, in the last fifty years, these crops are gradually disappearing and the dominant Western culture or American city.
National cna certification emblems of Chile
Copihue flower, national flower of the country.
The flower is the national emblem Copihue ( Lapageria rosea ), found in the forests of the south. The weapons represent the country’s two national animals: the condor (a very large bird living in the mountains of the family of vultures ) and Huemul (a deer in the white fleece, endangered species). It bears the motto of the country legend: Por La Razon o fuerza .
The Chilean flag was born in the process of independence of Chile, it has been shown for the first time the public February 12, 1818, during the proclamation of independence .
Elqui Valley in the Region of Coquimbo , a place where they make the pisco .
The Chilean flag was developed by the Minister José Ignacio Zenteno during the government of Bernardo O’Higgins and was designed by the Spanish military Antonio Arcos.
Red, blue and white represent the blood shed by the patriots during the Revolutionary War, the blue symbolizes the sky Chilean generally clear, and the snowy peaks of the Andes visible in the country. The five-pointed star represents the powers of the state that the maintenance of the home and located on the blue background of the star position exactly one third the size of the red flag 127
The first national anthem was written in 1819 by Manuel Robles on the words of the poet Bernardo de Vera y Pintado , following the declaration of independence. In 1846, under the government of Manuel Bulnes Prieto is finished and the war of independence, the Spanish residents in Chile some server monitoring verses regarded as offensive and hostile to Spain. The respective amendments were made ​​by Eusebio Lillo Robles and validated by Andrés Bello , and this version, currently used, was finished in 1847.
The national anthem of Chile consists of six stanzas and chorus, but are officially interpreted only the chorus and the fifth stanza.
Puro Chile, are you azulado cielo,
puras brisas you Cruzan también,
There you campo de flores bordado
are the copia del Edén feliz
Majestuosa are the montaña blanca
that you dio por el Señor bastion, (bis)
Tranquilo y ese March that you Baña
promise futuro splendor. (Repeat last 2 lines)
Coro (chorus):
Dulce Patria, recibe los votos
that in Chile con tus macaws juro:
O What will be the tumba de los free
o contra el asilo the opresión.
(Repeat last two to three times, bis last line twice) 128
Holidays
Public Holidays
Date French name Local name Notes
1 st January New Year Año Nuevo
March or April Holy Week ( Easter ) Semana Santa
1 st May Labour Day Día del Trabajo
May 21 Day of the Navy Día de las Fuerzas naval
June 29 Saint Peter and Saint Paul San Pedro y San Pablo
July 16 Virgin of Carmen (patron saint of Chile) Virgen del Carmen
August 15 Assumption Virgen de la Asunción
September 18 Celebrations of the Fatherland Fiestas Patrias
September 19 Day of the glories of the army Día del las Glorias del Ejercito
September 17
or September 20
Legal holiday Día “sandwich” feriado If they fall on a Monday or Friday respectively, they are public holidays
October 12 Discovery and Exploration of America Día de la Raza
1 st November Toussaint Día de Todos los Santos
December 8 Immaculate Conception Día de la Inmaculada Concepción
December 25 Christmas Navidad
Gastronomy
Chilean cuisine is derived from a mixture of Spanish and local cuisine. The main ingredients of traditional Chilean food products are characteristic of the region, mainly potatoes , the tomatoes , the corn , meat, beef and the beans in the southern zone of the country. You should also add the importance of fish and seafood for the whole country.
Share marraquetas .
Traditional dishes are cazuela , the asado (barbecue), the humitas , pastel de choclo and empanadas . Desserts like manjar , also known as the “dulce de leche” in Argentina , the alfajores, the sopaipillas and mote con huesillos are classics of the country. There is also the famous Patagonian Chile material exported throughout Chile. The palm honey is also known in the country that operates many groves of coconut trees in Chile .
The wines of Chile, derived from French grape varieties, has a long history. Varieties such as Carmenere , the Carbernet Sauvignon and Merlot ripens often in better conditions than in France with a climate suited to the vine characterized by heat during the day and night by the cool descending from the Cordillera.
Chileans are accustomed to have a snack in the late afternoon called ounces . This is usually a sandwich, topped with sausage, avocado or even pebre, tomato sauce, onions, pepper and oregano, all finely carved. The term comes originally ounces of “aguardiente” (eleven letters) designated by the soldiers oz .
Sport
Rodeo is considered the national sport .
The sport has a long history of Chile. Indeed, the Mapuche were already playing in the x th century in sports ancestor of ice hockey , the Chueca. In farming areas, the rodeo is the main sport and, since 1962 , it is considered “national sport”.
In 1896 , Luis Subercaseaux participated in the first Olympics of the modern era. It is one of the first South Americans to participate. However it was not until the Athens Olympics in 2004 to win the first gold medal obtained by tennis players Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez . Despite the presence of large ski like Portillo and Valle Nevado , the country never got a medal at the Winter Olympics.
Nicolas Massu double gold medalist Summer Olympics in Athens 2004 in tennis.
Towards the end of xix th century , British immigrants import the football , sport is practiced by the people and quickly become the most popular sport in the country since 1933 (the year of the founding of the Liga Chile). Chile welcomes, in 1962 the World Football 1962 , where the Selección Nacional de fútbol finished in third place. Nevertheless, the Chilean football was never able to get good track record overseas (there are still three significant interests in the World Cup football 1930, 1998 and 2010 and a bronze medal at the Olympics Summer 2000 ). The country has never won the America’s Cup and only Colo-Colo in 1991 , won the Copa Libertadores . Some players still Chilean acquire an international reputation as Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano , darlings of country. Not to mention Alexis Sánchez ( Barcelona ) and Matias Fernandes, the best players in the world according to Mourinho, coach of Real Madrid. The final participation of Chile in a World Cup football dates back to 2010, where the “Roja” was eliminated in the second round by Brazil (3-0). Chile had already been eliminated by the same opponent and at the same stage of the competition in 1998 (1-4).
The tennis became popular in recent years and is becoming the most popular sport in the country. In 1976 , Chile was the first Latin American country to play the final of the Davis Cup . In 1998 , Marcelo Rios is the first Hispanic American to reach the first ranking of the ATP . At this occation, he was invited by the Chilean president. Later, Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu not only give the first two gold medals in the country, but also gain the bichampionnat the World Cup teams in 2003 and 2004 .
The basketball is very popular in universities in the South. Chile has performed well in the championship in 2002 and 2005 . In motorcycle racing, Chile stands out at the world championship by Carlo de Gavardo in 2004 and 2005 , and Francisco Lopez in 2006 . Chile was the champion of the Polo World Cup 2008 .
But the most popular sport is soccer, followed by a majority of Chileans, even if the team never won the Storage Bins international competition. Each victory of La Roja is celebrated by the people with dignity.
Codes

Chile has the codes:
CC, according to the list of prefixes ICAO aircraft registration ,
CHI, according to the list of country codes IOC ,
CHL , according to standard ISO 3166-1 (list of country codes), alpha-3 code,
CHL , according to the list of country codes used by NATO , alpha-3 code,
CL, according to the list of country codes used by NATO alpha-2 code,
CL, according to standard ISO 3166-1 (list of country codes) alpha-2 code,
. Cl , according to the list of Internet TLDs ( Top Level Domain )
RCH, according to the list of international codes of plates ,
SC, according to the list of prefixes ICAO airport codes ,