Map of Chile – Chile Map, Chile Landforms, Map Chile South America

CHILE A Brief Description Fast Facts Flag Landforms Lat/Long Links Maps Time Traveler Info Weather

Chile Map, Physical Map of Chile, Andes Mountains, Chile Cities

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Traveler Info

Attractions: Chile is quite simply a land of incomparable scenery, and worldwide travelers frequently rave about their individual journeys into its unparelled landscapes and fascinating history.

For starters, Chile has more than its share of beaches, coves and inlets for exploring and swimming; uncounted skiing, scuba diving and surfing venues, and some of the planet's most spectacular deep-sea fishing. In addition, Chile's yearly calendar is crammed with cultural events and colorful festivals.

In the north, major attractions include the Spanish colonial architecture and history of Arica, Antofagasta and Coquimbo; topography of the Altiplano (plateau), the home of high-allitude alpacas, llamas and the ancestral heritage of the Aymara Indians; the lunar-landscape of the Atacama Desert, and the volcanic-in-origin national parks and nature preserves.

Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile Travel the World through Poster Art!

In the central regions the snow-capped Andes front the farms and vineyards of the country's most fertile valleys. Points-of-interest include the port city of Valparaiso and its regional casinos and sporting venues; the desirable climate, high-quality hotels, and stunning landscapes and vistas of Santiago, and the nearby world-class ski resorts.

In the south, recommendations include the beautiful Lake District, running south from Temuca; Puerto Montt; Puerto Natales; Chilo Island; the rugged scenery of Punta Arenas and Tierra del Fuego, and the wide-variety of national parks and nature preserves, including Bernardo O'Higgins, Laguna San Rafael, Magdalena Island, and the unbelievable, unforgettable and almost unimaginable - Torres Del Paine.

Major side-trips include the Juan Fernandez Island's Archipaelago, about 400 miles directly west of Valparaiso, and of course, remote Easter Island, a 2,400 miles journey to the land of the Moai, the famed giant stone statues that ring the island.

Country Dialing Code 56

Electricity Chile uses 220 volts AC (50 Hz)

Electrical adapters, products and tips here

Travel Warnings here

Visa Information here

PLEASE NOTE: Before making travel plans for any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate important details regarding visas, local health care, customs, etc. We always find it helpful to contact the nearest consulate of any country before beginning a journey into a foreign land

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Map of Chile, Outline Map of South America, Chile Maps, Chile South America

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A Brief Description

Ferdinand Magellan was the first European explorer to visit Chile, setting foot here on October 21, 1520.

In the late 15th century, the Incas extended their empire south, attempting to conquer Chile; they were successful in the north, but their influence (central and south) was limited as they faced fierce resistance from the indigenous Araucanian peoples.

In 1540, the Spanish explorer, Pedro de Valdivia arrived, and later founded the capital city of Santiago in 1541. He managed to control the local Indians, forcing them into hard labor, but in the south, the Araucanians would not budge.

Numerous Spanish settlements were built in central Chile, and their population base eventually exceeded one million. Those initial settlers suffered repeated attacks (often brutal) by Araucanians, and that remained a serious (hard to control) problem into the 19th century.

The colonies secretly detested Spain's military rule, but remained loyal to the Spanish crown for nearly three centuries. When the King of Spain was overthrown at the beginning of the 19th century, Chileans began to consider independence, and self-government.

And speaking of freedom, Jose de San Martin, and Bernardo O'Higgins, and their up-start armies drove out the Spanish and achieved their independence from Spain in 1818. Bernardo O'Higgins would later become Chile's first president.

Chile defeated Bolivia and Peru in a regional war (1879-1883) for the control of the Atacama Desert areas. During that war Chile gained more land to the north and Bolivia lost its outlet to the open sea; proving disastrous (even today) for its economy.

Beginning in 1891, and over the next 80 years, Chile was governed by self-serving parliamentary regimes, military rule, left-wing, right-wing parties (including Communists) and a long line of democratically elected presidents.

All remnants of democracy were tossed aside when the repressive military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet began in 1973; finally ending in 1989, when democratic elections were held again

Today, this underdeveloped country with an overdeveloped landscape is primed for the 21st century, as it controls a great portion of the planet's most spectacular scenery, as well as untold natural resources and riches.

Facts and Figures

Name Chile

(long form) Republic of Chile

Population 15,980,912

Population & Density (all countries) here

Capital City Santiago (6.3 million in metro area)

Currency Chilean Peso (CLP)

Currency Converter here

Languages Spanish

Flag here

National Day September 18

Religions Catholic (89%), Protestant (11%)

Geographic Coordinates

Latitude/Longitude (Capital City)

33º 27' S, 70º 40' W

Relative Location Chile is positioned in both the western and southern hemispheres. It's located on the western and southwestern coast of South America, and bordered by Argentina, Bolivia and Peru, and by the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Natales, Chile Travel the World through Poster Art!

Land Statistics

Coastline 3,998 miles (6,435 km)

Land Areas

(land) 289,113 sq miles (748,800 sq km)

(water) 3,147 sq miles (8,150 sq km)

(TOTAL) 292,261 sq miles (756,950 sq km)

Land Area (all countries) here

Landforms With a toothy coastline of almost 4,000 miles, pencil-thin Chile is wedged between the Pacific Ocean and the rugged Andes, the world's longest mountain range. This land of incredible and unusual contrasts is also home to the numerous beaches, fjords, deep sea channels, glaciers and icebergs - and the Atacama Desert - a virtually rainless plateau made up of salt basins and lava flows.

Most of the country's interior is covered by mountains. The snowcapped Andes cover almost all of its eastern border; generally lower, non-Andean ranges dissect Chile (north to south) with the largest being the Cordillera de la Costa in the far south.

Located along the Ring of Fire, the Andes are geologically a young mountain range that includes over 600 volcanoes (within Chile alone), many of them active, and almost 10% have erupted (at least once) within the last century.

Throughout the country deep valleys and high plateaus front these mountain, most winding east to west; the central valley (or Pampas) runs to the Pacific Ocean shoreline.

The Lake Region of the south, is a group of mostly small, clear blue, cold-water lakes; in this area, waterfalls are common.

In the far south, an almost uncountable group of mountainous islands (forming varied archipelagos) front the coastline, forming a series of winding channels and fjords. Cape Horn, directly south of the island of Tierra del Fuego, is the southern most point in the world, next to Antarctica.

Mixed into the stunning landscape are the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Fields that form the largest continental mass of ice in the world, outside of Greenland and Antarctica.

Hundreds of glaciers branch off the ice fields, many extend all the way to sea level. Meltwater from the glaciers gather in lakes such as the General Carrera - the second largest lake in South America.

And as for rivers....dozens rise in the upper reaches of the Andes, and flow either to the Pacific Ocean, or east through neighboring Argentina.

Highest Pt. Nevado Ojos del Salado - 22,572 ft.
(6,880 m), the second highest mountain on the South American continent.

Lowest Pt. Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)

Land Divisions 13 regions, including: Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca and Valparaiso.

Maps

Chile Outline Map here

Chile CIA version here

Chile Maps at UT here

Easter Island locator map here

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South America (Bodies of Water) here!

South America (Capital Cities) here!

South America (Landforms) here!

South America (Outline) here!

South America (Country Test) here!

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Ring of Fire map here

World Outline Maps (printable) here

World Time Zone Map here

Recommended Links

Chile (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here

Chilean Embassy (Washington, DC) web site

Chile Photos at TrekEarth.com here

Chile Tourism here

Santiago Times (newspaper) here

Torres Del Paine National Park here

National Geographic's Atacama Desert here

Santiago, the capital city of Chile Travel the World through Poster Art!

Time and Weather

Climate With incredible climate variations, north to south, Chile's weather is most difficult to summarize, so we will focus on Santiago, and then refer you to the individual conditions and forecasts shown below.

As for Santiago, the spring months (September - November) are mild and the perfect time to visit, while summers (December - February) are generally dry and hot, with cool evenings, and daily high temperatures often reaching 85º F.

The fall months (March - May) brings cooler temperatures with daily highs seldom exceeding 60ºF, and the winter months (June - August) bring colder temps, heavy rains and mountain snowfall.

A mountain lake in southern Chile Travel the World through Poster Art!

South
America
Countries

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

Guyana

Paraguay

Peru

Suriname

Uruguay

Venezuela

Falkland Islands
(a territory)

French Guiana
(a territory)

Galapagos Islands
(a territory)