CHILE BY: MICHAEL TOLBERT

CHILE –THE COUNTRY Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

CHILE NATIONAL FLAG Flag Description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for the blood spilled to achieve independence; design was influenced by the US flag

REPUBLIC OF CHILE CHILE CODE OF ARMS

CHILE PRESIDENT Michelle Bachelet Chilean presidential flag September 19,1951 Santiago, Chile Born The President of Chile is both the chief of state and the head of government. The President is elected by popular vote to serve for a period of four years, without immediate reelection. The shorter period allows for joint parliamentary and presidential elections. The official seat of the President of Chile is the Palacio de La Moneda in the capital Santiago. President from March 11, 2006– present Political party - Socialist

CHILE NATIONAL ANTHEM English Translation Chile, your sky is a pure blue, Pure breezes blow across you, And your field, embroidered with lowers, Is a happy copy of Eden. Majestic is the snow-covered mountain That was given to you by the Lord as a bastion, That was given to you by the Lord as a bastion ,And the sea that tranquilly washes your shore Promises future splendor for you, And the sea that tranquilly washes your shore Promises future splendor for you. CHORUS: Gentle homeland, accept the vows Given, Chile, on your altars, That you be either the tomb of the free Or a refuge from oppression.

CHILE: ORIGIN OF NAME There are various theories about the origin of the word Chile. According to one theory the Incas of Peru, who had failed to conquer the Araucanians, called the valley of the Aconcagua "Chili" by corruption of the name of a tribal chief ("cacique") called Tili, who ruled the area at the time of the Incan conquest. Another theory points to the similarity of the valley of the Aconcagua with that of the Casma Valley in Peru, where there was a town and valley named Chili. Other theories say Chile may derive its name from the indigenous Mapuche word chilli, which may mean "where the land ends" or "the deepest point of the Earth," or from the Aymara tchili meaning "snow"; another meaning attributed to chilli is the onomatopoeic cheele-cheele—the Mapuche imitation of a bird call. The Spanish conquistadors heard about this name from the Incas and the few survivors of Diego de Almagro's first Spanish expedition south from Peru in 1535-36 called themselves the "men of Chilli."

CHILE HISTORY Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

CHILEAN MILITARY The Chilean armed forces consisted of 80,500 active and 50,000 reserve personnel in 2002. Service will become voluntary beginning in 2005. The army numbered 45,000, the navy 23,000, and the air force 12,500. Equipment includes 40 main battle tanks, three destroyers, three frigates, and 89 combat aircraft. In addition, there is a paramilitary national police force, the carabiñeros, of about 36,800. Chile participates in Peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and India/Pakistan, and is in the process of developing a peace-keeping training center for the region. Defense expenditures were $2.5 billion in 1999, or about3.1% of GDP.

Chilean Transportation Railways: total: 6,585 km broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified) narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge Highways: total: 79,814 km paved: 15,484 km (including 294 km of expressways) unpaved: 64,330 km (2000) Waterways: Pipelines: gas 2,267 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 531 km; oil 983 km; refined products 545 km (2003) Ports and harbors: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso Merchant marine: total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 725,216 GRT/954,519 DWT by type: bulk 10, cargo 5, chemical tanker 9, container 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea/passenger 1, vehicle carrier 4 foreign-owned: Argentina 1 registered in other countries: 28 Airports: 363 Airports - with paved runways: total: 71 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 15 Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 292 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 216

CHILEAN TRANSSITIONAL ISSUES Illicit drugs Chile is an important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a new anti-money-laundering law improves controls; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising.

CHILE -ECONOMY Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. Labor force 6.3 million (2005 est.) Labor force - by occupation agriculture 13.6%, industry 23.4%, services 63% (2003 ) Agriculture - products: grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles Unemployment rate 8% (2005 est.) Population below poverty line: 18.2% (2005) Budget: revenues: $29.2 billion expenditures: $24.75 billion; including capital expenditures of $3.33 billion (2005 est.) Debt - ext : $44.8 billion (31 October 2005 est.)

CHILE – MISC. INFO. Government type National holiday: Independence: Republic National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810) Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain ) Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL% Languages: Spanish Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.2% male: 96.4% female: 96.1% (2003 est.) Climate: temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south Currency: Peso

CHILEAN PEOPLE Birth rate 15.23 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 16,134,219 (July 2006 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 24.7% (male 2,035,278/female 1,944,754) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 5,403,525/female 5,420,497) 65 years and over: 8.2% (male 555,075/female 775,090) (2006 est.) Birth rate 15.23 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) Death rate 5.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) Life expectancy at birth total population: 76.77 years male: 73.49 years female: 80.21 years (2006 est.)                                             Hiking through the impressive landscape of

CHILE SITES EASTER ISLAND

CHILE PHOTOS ATACAMA DESERT

CHILE PHOTOS TORRES DEL PAINE

CHILE PHOTOS SANTIAGO DE CHILE

SANTIAGO THE CAPITAL OF CHILE

CHILE SITES                                          Picture of the Month Viña del Mar Valparaiso Chile

CHILE HOTELS Grand Hyatt Santiago Hotel Rates Hotel rates are in US Dollars, per night, per room. Prices are free of local taxes for foreigners that are not Chilean Deluxe single/double room rates US$ 193                                  

CHILEAN DINING GRAN VISTA PROPIETARIOS Leonardo Chac鏮 Paola Moreno CHEF Max Alvarez In Santiago city, Gran Vista restaurant dominates a 180-degree view.

CHILEAN CUISINE index index index index index Typical Chilean MealThis food is typical of a Chilean home-cooked meal. Most meals are prepared from scratch. This meal is called cazuela and consists of soup, potato, corn, beef or chicken. All meals are served with bread. It is very odd to be served water during a meal. The beverage is almost always an alcoholic drink, soda, or juice. (Isla De Maipo, Chile, May 1998) index index index index index