|
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal
stripbetween the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the
west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast,
Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. It is
one of two countries in South America (with Ecuador) which do not
border Brazil. The
Pacific coastline of Chile is 6,435 kilometres. Chilean territory includes
the Pacific islands of Juan Fernández, Salas y Gómez, Desventuradas and
Easter Island. Chile also claims about 1,250,000 |
|
square kilometres
(480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica. Chile has been divided in to 4 regions (
North, Central, South and Extreme South).
Chile's unusual, ribbon-like shape—4,300 kilometres (2,700 mi) long and on
average 175 kilometres (109 mi) wide—has given it a varied climate,
ranging from the world's driest desert—the Atacama—in the north, through a
Mediterranean climate in the centre, to a snow-prone Alpine climate in the
south. The northern desert contains great mineral wealth, principally
copper. The relatively small central area dominates in terms of population
and agricultural resources, and is the cultural and political center from
which Chile expanded in the late 19th century, when it incorporated its
northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in forests and
grazing lands and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern
coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and
islands.
Prior to arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was
under Inca rule while the indigenous Araucanians inhabited central and
southern Chile. Although Chile declared independence in 1810, decisive
victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the
Pacific (1879–83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present
northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Araucanians were
completely subjugated. Although relatively free of the coups and arbitrary
governments that blighted South America, Chile endured a 17-year military
dictatorship(1973–1990) under Augusto Pinochet that left more than 2,900
people dead and missing.
Currently, Chile is one of South America's most stable and prosperous
nations It leads Latin American nations in human development, gross
domestic product per capita, competitiveness, quality of life, political
stability, globalization, economic freedom, low perception of corruption
and comparatively low poverty rates. It also ranks high regionally in
freedom of the press and democratic development. It has a high income
inequality, as measured by the Gini index. Chile is a founding member of
the United Nations and the Union of South American Nations.
Tourism
Tourism in Chile has experienced sustained
growth over the last few decades. In 2005, tourism grew by 13.6%,
generating more than 4.5 billion dollars of which 1.5 billion is
attributed to foreign tourists. According to the National Service of
Tourism (Sernatur), 2 million people a year visit the country. Most of
these visitors come from other countries in the American continent, mainly
Argentina; followed by a growing number from the United States, Europe,
and Brazil with a growing number of Asians from South Korea and PR China.
Easter IslandThe main attractions for tourists are places of natural
beauty situated in the extreme zones of the country: San Pedro de Atacama,
in the north, is very popular with foreign tourists who arrive to admire
the Incaic architecture, the altiplano lakes, and the Valley of the Moon.
In Putre, also in the North, there is the Chungará Lake, as well as the
Parinacota and the Pomerape volcanoes, with altitudes of 6,348 m and 6,282
m, respectively. Throughout the central Andes there are many ski resorts
of international repute, like Portillo and Valle Nevado. In the south, the
main tourist sites are the Chiloé Archipelago and Patagonia, which
includes Laguna San Rafael National Park, with its many glaciers, and the
Torres del Paine National Park. The central port city of Valparaíso, with
its unique architecture, is also popular. Finally, Easter Island in the
Pacific Ocean is one of the main Chilean tourist destinations.
Torres del PaineFor locals, tourism is concentrated mostly in the summer
(December to March), and mainly in the coastal beach towns. Arica, Iquique,
Antofagasta, La Serena and Coquimbo are the main summer centres in the
north, and Pucón on the shores of Lake Villarrica is the main one in the
south. Because of its proximity to Santiago, the coast of the Valparaíso
Region, with its many beach resorts, receives the largest number of
tourists. Viña del Mar, Valparaíso's northern affluent neighbor, is
popular because of its beaches, casino, and its annual song festival, the
most important musical event in Latin America.
In November 2005, the government launched a campaign under the brand
"Chile: All Ways Surprising," intended to promote the country
internationally for both business and tourism.
The main cities of Chile:
Travel Organizer / Organiser,
Agencies, Travel Operator in Chile
National parks
Hotels, Motels, Inn, Guest House and
Resorts in Chile. |
 
 
 
 
 
|
