ChileChileAndrew LeljaAndrew Lelja

History 141History 141

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GeographyGeography• Chile is one of only two South Chile is one of only two South

American countries that does not American countries that does not border Brazilborder Brazil

• It is the longest North to South It is the longest North to South country in the world, being about country in the world, being about 2,880 miles long, and on average 2,880 miles long, and on average 109 miles wide.109 miles wide.

• The country is situated between The country is situated between the Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Andes Mountains to the east.the Andes Mountains to the east.

• Chile controls Easter Island, Sala y Chile controls Easter Island, Sala y Gomez Island, Robinson Crusoe Gomez Island, Robinson Crusoe Island and the eastern most Island and the eastern most Polynesian Islands.Polynesian Islands.

• Chile also claims 480,000 square Chile also claims 480,000 square miles of Antarctica, but has miles of Antarctica, but has suspended it under the Antarctic suspended it under the Antarctic Treaty.Treaty.

GeographyGeography• Chile has a wide range of climates Chile has a wide range of climates

because it covers 38 degrees in because it covers 38 degrees in latitude, and features at least 7 latitude, and features at least 7 major climatic zones.major climatic zones.– The Desert in the NorthThe Desert in the North– Alpine Tundra's and Glaciers in Alpine Tundra's and Glaciers in

the East and South Eastthe East and South East– Humid Subtropics on Easter Humid Subtropics on Easter

IslandIsland– Oceanic in the SouthOceanic in the South– Mediterranean in Central ChileMediterranean in Central Chile

• Because Chile covers so many Because Chile covers so many different latitudes, the country different latitudes, the country experiences all four seasons.experiences all four seasons.

• The Andes is the worlds longest The Andes is the worlds longest continental mountain range, with continental mountain range, with the southern portion of the range the southern portion of the range splitting Chile and Argentina.splitting Chile and Argentina.

GeographyGeography• Baker River is the largest river in Chile Baker River is the largest river in Chile

in terms of the volume of water it cariesin terms of the volume of water it caries– It is fed by the Bertrand Lake, which It is fed by the Bertrand Lake, which

feeds from General Carrera Lakefeeds from General Carrera Lake• Chile has been relatively geographically Chile has been relatively geographically

isolated from all other S. American isolated from all other S. American countriescountries– Main mammals are the Puma, Llama Main mammals are the Puma, Llama

like Guanaco, and fox like Chillalike Guanaco, and fox like Chilla– In the forest, some marsupials, and In the forest, some marsupials, and

small deersmall deer– Whaled are abundant, 6 types of Whaled are abundant, 6 types of

seals, and even penguinsseals, and even penguins• Northeast and Central Chile are mostly Northeast and Central Chile are mostly

desertdesert• The slopes of the Andes features grass, The slopes of the Andes features grass,

while the Central Valley has multiple while the Central Valley has multiple species of cacti.species of cacti.

• South of the Biobio River in S. Chile, South of the Biobio River in S. Chile, heavy precipitation has produced dense heavy precipitation has produced dense forests and grasslands in Patagonia.forests and grasslands in Patagonia.

People of ChilePeople of Chile• As of July 2011, Chile’s As of July 2011, Chile’s

population was roughly population was roughly 16,880,760 with around 89% of 16,880,760 with around 89% of the people living in urban areas.the people living in urban areas.– Currently, 4.6% of the population Currently, 4.6% of the population

consider themselves indigenous.consider themselves indigenous.

• Chile’s population is multi-Chile’s population is multi-ethnic with the majority 52.7% ethnic with the majority 52.7% being Euro-origin and 44% being Euro-origin and 44% Mestizos.Mestizos.– Most Chileans are of Euro Most Chileans are of Euro

descent because of the Spanish descent because of the Spanish settlers and explorers.settlers and explorers.

• 40% of Chileans live in and 40% of Chileans live in and around Greater Santiago.around Greater Santiago.

People of ChilePeople of Chile• The majority of the people are The majority of the people are

descendents from Spain, with most of descendents from Spain, with most of them being from the Basque country.them being from the Basque country.– Other descendents mainly from Italy, Other descendents mainly from Italy,

Ireland, France, Greece, Germany, Ireland, France, Greece, Germany, England, the Netherlands, Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Scotland, Croatia and the Middle East.Croatia and the Middle East.

• In 1848 the Chilean government In 1848 the Chilean government sponsored the colonization of Southern sponsored the colonization of Southern ChileChile– Led to a strong German presents in Chilean Led to a strong German presents in Chilean

people, with most of them in the Los Rios people, with most of them in the Los Rios Region.Region.

• Around 5% of people are of Asian and Around 5% of people are of Asian and Middle Eastern descent.Middle Eastern descent.

• 3% of the population is Croatian3% of the population is Croatian• Around 1% of the people are Greek, Around 1% of the people are Greek,

making Chile on of the top 5 countries in making Chile on of the top 5 countries in the world with most Greek descendants.the world with most Greek descendants.

• Recently, people have been immigrating Recently, people have been immigrating from Argentina, Bolivia and mainly Peru.from Argentina, Bolivia and mainly Peru.

People of ChilePeople of Chile• The Constitution of Chile allows for The Constitution of Chile allows for

Freedom of Religion and in 1999 church Freedom of Religion and in 1999 church and state were officially separated.and state were officially separated.– 70% are Roman Catholic70% are Roman Catholic– 15.1% are Evangelical15.1% are Evangelical– 1.1% are Jehovah’s Witness1.1% are Jehovah’s Witness

• Spanish is the main language spoken.Spanish is the main language spoken.– Accents do not vary much throughout Accents do not vary much throughout

country because the population was country because the population was largely formed in center of country then largely formed in center of country then people migrated north and south.people migrated north and south.

• English is the secondary language English is the secondary language spoken and has become mandatory to be spoken and has become mandatory to be taught in school.taught in school.

• German is another common language German is another common language mainly spoken in Southern Chile.mainly spoken in Southern Chile.

• There are several indigenous languages There are several indigenous languages still spoken: Mapudungun, Quechua, still spoken: Mapudungun, Quechua, Aymara, and Rapa Nui.Aymara, and Rapa Nui.

HistoryHistory• 10,000 years ago, migrating Native 10,000 years ago, migrating Native

Americans settle in the fertile valleys Americans settle in the fertile valleys and coastal areas of what is now Chile.and coastal areas of what is now Chile.– The Incas briefly extended their The Incas briefly extended their

empire into what is now northern empire into what is now northern Chile, but the Mapuche successfully Chile, but the Mapuche successfully fought them off.fought them off.

– The Battle of Maule was a bloody The Battle of Maule was a bloody three day confrontation that ended at three day confrontation that ended at the Maule River with the Incas the Maule River with the Incas winning.winning.

• In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan discovered In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan discovered the southern passage while attempting the southern passage while attempting to circumnavigate the ocean.to circumnavigate the ocean.– In 1535, the next Europeans to come In 1535, the next Europeans to come

were Diego de Almagro and his were Diego de Almagro and his Spanish conquistadors, who came Spanish conquistadors, who came from Peru seeking gold.from Peru seeking gold.

– The conquest of Chile by the Spanish The conquest of Chile by the Spanish began in 1540, and was carried out by began in 1540, and was carried out by Pedro de Valdivia.Pedro de Valdivia.

• The Spanish recognized Chiles The Spanish recognized Chiles agricultural potential, so they adopted it agricultural potential, so they adopted it as part of the Spanish Empire.as part of the Spanish Empire.

HistoryHistory• A massive Mapuche insurrection that began A massive Mapuche insurrection that began

in 1553, resulted in Valdivia's death and the in 1553, resulted in Valdivia's death and the destruction of many of the colony's destruction of many of the colony's principal settlements.principal settlements.– A significant number of other major A significant number of other major

insurrections took place in 1598 and in insurrections took place in 1598 and in 1655.1655.

– Each time the Mapuche and other native Each time the Mapuche and other native groups revolted, the southern border of groups revolted, the southern border of the colony was driven northward.the colony was driven northward.

• Chile became one of the most centralized, Chile became one of the most centralized, homogeneous colonies in Spanish America homogeneous colonies in Spanish America because it’s cut off by desert in the north, because it’s cut off by desert in the north, by the Mapuche in the south, the Andes by the Mapuche in the south, the Andes Mountains to the east, and the Pacific Mountains to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.Ocean to the west.

• Chile had one of the largest standing Chile had one of the largest standing armies in the Americas, making it one of armies in the Americas, making it one of the most militarized of the Spanish the most militarized of the Spanish possessions.possessions.

• The first population numbers generated The first population numbers generated between 1777 and 1778 showed their were between 1777 and 1778 showed their were 259,646 people.259,646 people.– 73.5% of European descent, 7.9% 73.5% of European descent, 7.9%

mestizos, 8.6% Indians and 9.8% blacks.mestizos, 8.6% Indians and 9.8% blacks.

HistoryHistory• A national junta in the name of Ferdinand was A national junta in the name of Ferdinand was

formed on September 18, 1810.formed on September 18, 1810.– The Government Junta of Chile proclaimed The Government Junta of Chile proclaimed

Chile an autonomous republic within the Chile an autonomous republic within the Spanish monarchy.Spanish monarchy.

• After these events, a movement for total After these events, a movement for total independence, under the command of José independence, under the command of José Miguel Carrera and his two brothers Juan Miguel Carrera and his two brothers Juan José and Luis Carrera, soon gained a wider José and Luis Carrera, soon gained a wider following.following.

• On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic.independent republic.– The political revolt brought little social change.The political revolt brought little social change.

• Near the end of the 19th century, the government Near the end of the 19th century, the government in Santiago consolidated its position in the south in Santiago consolidated its position in the south by suppressing the Mapuche during the by suppressing the Mapuche during the Occupation of AraucaníaOccupation of Araucanía

• A treaty with Argentina confirming Chilean A treaty with Argentina confirming Chilean sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan was signed sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan was signed in 1881.in 1881.– As a result of the War of the Pacific with Peru As a result of the War of the Pacific with Peru

and Bolivia (1879–83), Chile expanded its and Bolivia (1879–83), Chile expanded its territory northward by almost one-third, territory northward by almost one-third, eliminating Bolivia's access to the Pacific, and eliminating Bolivia's access to the Pacific, and acquired valuable nitrate deposits, the acquired valuable nitrate deposits, the exploitation of which led to an era of national exploitation of which led to an era of national affluence.affluence.

SourcesSources

• Wikipedia.orgWikipedia.org

• Images.google.comImages.google.com