Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Borders: Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. With Ecuador, it is one of two countries in South America which do not border Brazil. Pacific coastline of Chile is 6,435 kilometers. Introduction

Chilean territory includes the Pacific islands of Juan Fernández, Salas and Gómez, Desventuradas and Easter Island. Official language: the Spanish. Chile claims about 1,250,000 square kilometres of Antarctica, although all claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. There are about people. Introduction (continues)

Chile South American Map showing Chile

The climate of Chile Climatic Subtypes: Within its border, there are at list seven major climatic subtypes: desert in the north alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and south east humid and subtropical in Easter Island oceanic in the south and Mediterranean climate in Central Chile. Seasons: There are four seasons in most of the country: Summer(from December to February), Autumn(March to May), Winter(June to August) and Spring(September to November).

Chile is governed under the constitution of 1981, as amended. It is a multiparty democracy with a directly elected president who serves a four-year term (six-year prior to the constitutional amendments of 2005). The president may not be elected two consecutive terms. The bicameral legislature consists of: A 38-seat Senate, whose members are elected to serve eight-year terms, and a 120-seat Chamber of Deputies, whose members are elected for four years. Administratively, Chile is divided into 13 regions.

Flora and Fauna Chilean flora is distinct from its neighbor Argentina, indicating that the Andean barrier already existed during its formation. Chilean species include: the monkey-puzzle tree, part of the pine-like Araucaria genus centered in New Caledonia, and southern beeches. Chilean fauna The principal symbol of the Chilean shield is flanked by an Andean Condor, the national bird. In the premountain range there are pumas and foxes, as well as guanacos, llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. In the central zone of the country it is not unusual to see hummingbirds, even in the heart of the Santiago. A variety of wolves and marine lions, penguins, dolphins and whales can also be founded along the extensive Chilean coast.

The culture of Chile is one of a relatively homogeneal society where historically its geographical isolation and remoteness has played a key role. Since colonial times the Chilean culture has been a mix of Spanish colonial elements and indigenous culture. Traditional Chilean culture is of rural and agrarian origin where horsemen, the Huasos of Central Chile, are the most emblematic symbol. To this, it must added that while some regions of Chile have very strong indigenous heritage such as Araucania Region, Easter Island and Arica and Parinacota Region, other lacks indigenous peoples and other regions have noteworthy non-Spanish European immigrant heritage. However, the mainstream Chilean culture that emanates from the historical core of central Chile is of predominant Mediterranean climate rural criollo and mestizo origin. Culture

Chilean Currency

View of Santiago, capital of Chile

Official flag of Chile: