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Location |
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The Chilean territory is to the
south west of the American continent,
from the 17º 30' and the 90º of south latitude. |
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Its continental length is of approximately
4.200 km and of 8.000 km in total if we sum the Chilean
Antarctica. |
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Also are part of the country the
Easter Island or Rapa Nui (in Polynesian language),
the Juan Fernández Archipelago,
the islands San Félix, San Ambrosio and Sala y Gómez,
and the territorial waters of 200 miles and its corresponding
continental platform. |
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Limits |
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Chile limits to the north with the Peru, to the
east with Bolivia and Argentina, to the west with the Pacific
Ocean and to the south with the South Pole. |
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Surface |
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The continental and insular country area is
756.626 square kilometers. The Antarctic territory has an
area of 1.250.000 square kilometers, summing a total area
of 2.006.626 s-km. |
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The width of the country is in average 177 kilometers,
with a minimum of 90 kilometers north of the Rio Choapa mouth.
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Natural
Patrimony |
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Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF)
is the state institution in charge of preserving the country’s
natural patrimony through a protected territory that covers
about 14 million hectares, equivalent to 19% of the national
territory, formed by 94 operational units distributed in 31
National Parks, 48 National Reserves and 15 National Monuments.
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History |
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According to the most recent archaeological investigations,
Chile has been inhabited for more than 10.000 years. In the
XVI century, part of the country belonged to the Inca empire.
In that same century it was discovered and conquered by the
Spaniards. In the south of Chile the Mapuche lived, a belligerent
people that opposed the Spanish domain and who the Spaniards
could never subject. The country begins independence from Spain
starting with the declaration of the First National Government
Assembly in September 18, 1810, later formalized in the Declaration
of Independence on the 2nd of February 1818. From that date
on, Chile has been consolidating itself as a republican state,
actually an example for the continent. |
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Some
important numbers |
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Internal product:
115.000 million dollar ( 2005 ).
Per capita income: US$ 7.100 a year (2005).
Illiteracy: 4.3% (2002).
Public libraries: 378 (2005).
Museums: There are about 100 museums, of
which 26 are central government dependent through the Direction
of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DIBAM). There are also
important museums administered by universities, foundations
and municipalities.
Newspapers: 25, including 16 regional newspapers. |
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