Chile

Country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders to Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east and the Drake Passage in the far south. With Ecuador, it is on of the two countries in South America which do not border Brazil.

The pacific coastline of Chile is 6,435 Kilometers. Chilean territory includes the Pacific islands of Juan Fernandes, Salas y Gomez, Desventruadas and the Easter Island. Chile also claims about 1.250.000 square kilometers of Antartica, although all claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.

The Shape of Chile is distinctive, ribbon of land 4.300 kilometers long and on average 175 kilometers wide. Its climate varies, ranging from the world's driest desert - the Atacama - in the north, through a Mediterranean climate in the center, to a rainy temperate climate in the south. The northern desert contains grate mineral wealth

Prior to arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Mapuche inhabited central and southern Chile. Chile declare its independence from Spain on February 12, 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-89), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its current northern territory. It was not until the 1880s that the Mapuche were completely subjugated. Although relatively free of the coups and arbitrary governments that blighted South America, Chile endures a 17 year military dictatorship (1973 - 1990) that left more than 3,000 people dear or missing.

Today, Chile is on of the South America's most stables and prosperous nations. It leads Latin America nations in human development competitiveness, quality of life, political stability, globalization, economic freedom, low perception of corruption and comparatively low poverty rates. If also ranks high regionally in freedom o the press and democratic developme

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