Mountains dominant feature of Chile’s varied landscape

The South American country of Chile is easily recognizable on a map. Long and narrow and fronting on the Pacific Ocean, it extends 4,300 km from Peru and Bolivia along its northern frontier to Cape Horn at its southern end.

The average mainland width of Chile, which backs on to Argentina, is about 160 km. The Andes mountain range might be said to dominate the landscape of the Spanish-speaking nation, which sports a variety of climates, from coastal desert in the tropical north to cold subantarctic in the south. Winters can bring storms and flash floods, and summer, droughts.

Northern Chile is chiefly desert; the central region is temperate and supports the bulk of the population; south-central has lakes and forests and supports grain farming; the southernmost third of Chile is considered the most inhospitable region.

The capital city, Santiago, is in the central region. The country’s second largest population centre, the port city of Valparaiso and the neighboring resort centre of Vina de Mar, sit 110 km to the west.

The Chilean Andes, which form most of the border with Argentina, boast the highest section of the Andes mountain chain. As might be expected from a mountainous area, Chile experiences its share of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and tsunamis from major faults along the ocean floor. Racially, Chileans are a mix of Europeans and American Indians, dating back to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores during the 16th century. Currently, the nation’s population numbers about 12 million. From early on, the nation’s economy has been based on agriculture, fishing, forestry and mining. Agricultural and mineral exports brought in foreign currency. Numerous manufactured products had to be imported, however, and a small aristocracy gained control of the land, wealth and power. Attempts this century to strengthen the Chilean economy included the establishment of import substitution industries, agrarian reforms and the nationalization of many banks, copper mines and businesses. A military coup overthrew the government in 1973 and a more free-market approach to government was instituted.

The official Chilean bank, Banco Central de Chile, created in 1925 but as of 1989 an autonomous institution, looks after the nation’s financial and exchange-rate policies. Another state banking institution, Banco del Estado de Chile, is involved in private commercial transactions.

Chileans have enjoyed political freedom, for the most part, since the creation of the Republic of Chile in 1821. The longest period of authoritarian dictatorship in the country’s history occurred when a military junta led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet Ugarte ruled during the 1973-90 period. Presidential elections (in 1989) restored democracy to the nation in 1990. — Source: the new Encyclopedia Britannica.