History of Modern Latin America

History of Latin America - Chile

Chile is noted for its diversity. In the north is one of the driest areas in the world, the Atacama Desert, which contains places where rainfall has never been recorded. In the far south lies the extremely rainy Strait of Magellan. Middle Chile is a transition zone between the desert north and the rainy south.

The land also varies. The relatively flat valley floors of middle Chile give way to the towering Andes Mountains to the east and the Coastal Ranges on the west. The country lacks an extensive plain bordering the Pacific Ocean; generally the coastal mountains plunge directly to the sea.
Geographically and economically the country can be divided into three major regions: the mineral-producing northern desert; central Chile, the economic, political, and agricultural core of the nation; and the wet, sparsely settled southern third, where sheep raising is the major activity.

Official Name. Republic of Chile.
Capital. Santiago.
NATURAL FEATURES
Mountain Range. Andes.
Highest Peak. Ojos del Salado, 22,615 feet (6,893 meters).
Major Rivers. Loa, Bio-Bio, Maule, Maipo, Aconcagua.
Largest Lakes. Llanquihue, Ranco, Puyehue, Rupanco.
PEOPLE
Population (1989 estimate). 12,961,000; 44.4 persons per square mile (17.1 persons per square kilometer); 80.8 percent urban, 19.2 percent rural.
Major Cities (1987 estimate). Santiago (4,858,300), Vina del Mar (297,300), Concepcion (294,400), Valparaiso (278,800), Talcahuano (231,400).
Major Religion. Roman Catholicism.
Major Language. Spanish (official).
Literacy. 94 percent.
Leading Universities and Colleges. Catholic University of Chile (Santiago), University of Concepcion, University of Chile (Santiago), University of Santiago of Chile.
GOVERNMENT
Form of Government. Republic.
Chief of State and Head of Government. President.
Legislature. National Congress, composed of Senate with 48 members and Chamber of Deputies with 120 members.
Voting Qualification. Age 18.
Political Divisions. 12 regions and the metropolitan region of Santiago; regions subdivided into 40 provinces.
ECONOMY
Chief Agricultural Products. Crops sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, corn (maize). Livestock sheep, cattle, pigs.
Chief Mined Products. Copper, iron ore, iodine, molybdenum, natural nitrates, silver, gold, vanadium, lithium, manganese, lead.
Chief Manufactured Products. Food products, nonferrous metals, chemical products, beverages, textiles, paper and paper products.
Chief Exports. Copper, molybdenum, iron ore, fish meal, paper and paper products, metal manufactures, fruits and vegetables.
Chief Imports. Mineral fuels and lubricants, industrial raw materials, trucks, passenger vehicles, foodstuffs, animals.
Monetary Unit. 1 Chilean peso = 100 centavos.