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Chile |
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Chile |
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| Chile is located on
the western side of South America and covers over 290,000 square
miles. It is 2700 miles long with the average width of 110 miles.
The length of Chile if placed in the northern hemisphere would
stretch from the northern tip of Newfoundland in Canada to the
southern tip of Florida and Cuba. The borders are defined by
the Pacific Ocean to the west, Argentina by the east, and Bolivia
and Peru to the north. The country has over 12,000,000 people
with Roman Catholicism as the main religion. As Argentina, the
climate, vegetation, and topography is as diversified as Europe.
The climate ranges from cold and low temperatures in the south
and in the Andes Mountains to dry and hot in parts of the north
with moderate temperatures near central part by the Pacific
Ocean. Vegetation varies from dry and arid to natural dense
forests. A dense rain forest, rich in timber species, grows
in the humid Lake District and Patagonia region and extends
southward. The Andes Mountains that stretch along the border
of Argentina
and Chile have mountain peaks with elevations of over 20,000
feet that are covered with ice fields and glaciers. |
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| Centro
de Lenguas, Chile is located in the beautiful town of Santiago,
which is one of the most sophisticated metropoles in South-America
and located near the Andes. |
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Geography |
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Santiago is located
at 543 meters above sea level, in Chile's central zone, 2,051
kms south of Arica, the country's northernmost city and 3,141
kms. north of Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in the world.
The Pacific Ocean is located a hundred kilometers away and
the Andean Mountain Range. 40 kms. Chile has a total population
of about thirteen million inhabitants of whom 5 million live
in the capital city, Santiago. |
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Language |
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| Spanish is the official
language of Chile. In tourist companies and organizations the
higher echelons speak English and/or French. |
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Religion |
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| There is complete religious
freedom in Chile although the official religion is Roman Catholic.
There are also other religions such as Protestant, Jewish, Moslem,
Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc. |
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Currency |
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| The official Chilean
currency is the Peso (CLP). The US Dollar is at a rate of 1:580
(Feb. 2001) to the Chilean Peso. Please check Currency
Converter |
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Government and
Constitution |
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| Chile has a market-oriented
economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During
the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role model for economic
reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio
AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened
the economic reform initiated by the military government. Growth
in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell to half that
level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented
to keep the current account deficit in check and lower export
earnings - the latter a product of the global financial crisis.
A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing
crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and electricity
rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic growth for
the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of
the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial
institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest
sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999,
exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth
rebounded to 5.5% in 2000. Unemployment remains stubbornly high,
however, putting pressure on President LAGOS to improve living
standards. Meanwhile, Chile has launched free trade negotiations
with the US. |
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Map |
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Culture |
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Andes
Ski Resorts |
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The ski resorts, which
can be reached by bus or car, are located less that an hour's
drive from Santiago. Farellones-EI Colorado, La Parva and Valle
Nevado are all situated on the slopes of the Andean mountains.
From June to October these resorts, as well as others in Chile,
are visited by both foreign and Chilean ski fanatics, because
of the excellent slopes, good snow, nice weather and modern
infrastructure.
Skiing in the Andes has gained popularity among many European
and American skiers over the last few years. The snow conditions
are great and the opposite seasons offer people from the Northern
hemisphere to come and enjoy a "second winter" during
their summer vacation.
Not only Chile, but also Argentina
has several ski resorts that can be reached either via Buenos
Aires and Mendoza in Argentina or through Santiago, Chile. |
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Wine in Chile |
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Chile is famous for
its wines and is the biggest exporter of wine in South-America.
In the Maipo Valley, near the city of Santiago, lies one of
the country's most important winegrowing areas. This region
combines the three ideal conditions know internationally as
the "trilogy" necessary to produce good wine: climate
- soil - vinestock.
Several vineyards are located in this area: The Concha y Toro
vineyard in Pirque offers guided tours of the winery and the
nearby village of Pirque with its beautiful countryside and
mountain air and old haciendas with their stately manor houses.
Other vineyards in the area open to the public are: Santa Rita,
Santa Carolina and Cousin o Macul. |
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Food |
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Gastronomical Santiago
Santiago's restaurants offer local cuisine based on seafood,
fish, vegetables, and meat, as well as a variety of international
specialities. Aeras where most restaurants are located are:
Bellavista district.
El Bosque - Isidora Goyenechea area.
Providencia Suecia area
General Holley, also has elegant bars.
Paseo San Damián. Las Condes.
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