Chile is a country located in the southern part of South America, between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It has a population of over 18 million people and its capital is Santiago. Chile is one of the most developed countries in Latin America and is considered an emerging market economy. Its main industries are copper mining, agriculture, fishing, forestry and tourism.
Chile was inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before being colonized by Spain in the 16th century. After gaining independence from Spain in 1818, Chile became a republic in 1833. In 1973, a military coup led to the establishment of a dictatorship which lasted until 1990. Since then, Chile has been a democracy and has had one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America.
Chile covers an area of 756,096 square kilometers (292,258 square miles) and its terrain includes deserts, glaciers, fjords and volcanoes. The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is one of the driest places on Earth while Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile is home to some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. The country also contains many active volcanoes such as Villarrica Volcano which last erupted in 2015.
The official language of Chile is Spanish but there are also several minority languages spoken including Mapudungun, Quechua and Aymara. Chilean culture has been influenced by indigenous traditions as well as European immigration. Chilean cuisine typically consists of seafood dishes such as ceviche (raw fish marinated in citrus juice), empanadas (pastries filled with meat or vegetables) and curanto (a stew made with shellfish).
Some popular tourist attractions in Chile include Easter Island (home to famous Moai statues), San Pedro de Atacama (an oasis town located in the Atacama Desert) and Valparaiso (a port city known for its colorful houses).