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About Chile
Chile is a fabulous country of incredible geographical contrasts.
Divided by the majestic spine of the Andes mountains from Argentina, Chile marches west of the mountains on a north/south axis, facing out over the Southern Pacific Ocean. Including the arid conditions of the Atacama Desert, the incredible rock formations of the Valle de la Luna and the numerous thermal spring and Tatio Geysers in the Big North. Through to the more Mediterranean climate of the central valley, where the population and the number of cities increase due to the economic richness of the area; agriculture, mining, fishing and tourism. Reaching Patagonia, you come across a truly remote and uncharted landscape, where the San Rafael snowcap meets the sea, North Patagonia is home to the largest lake in the country, General Carrera Lake, whilst South Patagonia is home to the amazing Torres del Paine National Park, with its lagoons, lakes, glaciers and snowcaps and ends in Tierra del Fuego island, split between Chile and Argentina.
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule whilst the central and southern regions were home to the Araucanian Indians. Chile declared Independence from Spain in 1810. The short lived Marxist government of Salvador Allende was overthrown in 1973 by the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, who ruled as president until 1990. The 90’s have seen a constant steady economic growth and today Chile is a prosperous stable democratic nation. There is a total population of some 16 million people, some third of whom live in Greater Santiago.
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