Chile

Chile

AREA	756,626 sq km (292,135 sq miles).
POPULATION	14,419,000 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	19.0 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Santiago (de Chile).
CAPITAL POPULATION	5,076,808 (1995).
GEOGRAPHY	Chile is situated in South America, bounded to the north by Peru, to the east by Bolivia and Argentina, to the west by the Pacific and to the south by the Antarctic. The country exercises sovereignty over a number of islands off the coast, including the Juan Fernández Islands and Easter Island. Chile is one of the most remarkably shaped countries in the world; a ribbon of land, 4200km (2610 miles) long and nowhere more than 180km (115 miles) wide. The Andes and a coastal highland range take up one-third or half of the width in parts, and run parallel with each other from north to south. The coastal range forms high, sloped cliffs into the sea from the northern to the central area. Between the ranges runs a fertile valley, except in the north where transverse ranges join the two major ones, and in the far south where the sea has broken through the coastal range to form an assortment of archipelagos and channels. The country contains wide variations of soil and vast differences of climate. This is reflected in the distribution of the population, and in the wide range of occupations from area to area. The northern part of the country consists mainly of the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world. It is also the main mining area. The central zone is predominantly agricultural. The south is forested and contains some agriculture; further south, the forests on the Atlantic side give way to rolling grassland on which sheep and cattle are raised.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1818. Head of State and Government: President Ricardo Lagos Escobar since 2000.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Spanish, but English is widely spoken.
RELIGION	Predominantly Christian, of which 79% are Roman Catholic
STANDARD TIME	Mainland and Juan Fernández Islands: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from second Sunday in October to second Saturday in March). Easter Island: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from second Sunday in October to second Saturday in March).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs and screw-type bulbs are used.

Posted in: countries