Done by Darina Grigorova, 6 th grade Dimitar Blagoev Primary, Bulgaria Space Teds’ Adventures Around Europe World Cup research

 FAST FACTS  OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Chile  FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic  CAPITAL: Santiago  POPULATION: 17,216,945  OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Spanish  MONEY: Chilean peso  AREA: 291,932 square miles (756,102 square kilometers)

The northern part of the country was ruled by the Inca before the Spanish took control in the 16th century. The country gained independence from Spain in 1810.

Salvador Allende's elected Marxist government and the country suffered 16 years under the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. Democracy was restored in 1989.

The country is governed by an elected president, who is both the chief of state and head of government.

Chile is a long narrow country which extends like a ribbon down the west coast of South America.

 Cape Horn is the southernmost tip of South America. Cape Horn is known for high winds and treacherous waves.

 The Atacama Desert is one of the driest areas on the Earth. The country's rich supply of copper is also found in the desert region.

 There are many species of reptiles and cacti.

About 40 percent of the population lives in the area around the capital of Santiago.

 Children in rural areas need to wake up at 5:00 - 6:00 a.m. to walk to school or meet the bus. Their journeys sometimes take two hours each way. After school, they help their parents in the fields and do their homework.

The stone heads of Easter island

Pumas, alpacas, vicunas, foxes, condors, and flamingos are all found on the diverse landscapes of Chile.

 The region is rich in natural beauty and animal life. The long coastline is home to penguins, pelicans, and sea lions, and migratory whales can be seen.

They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup where finished in third place, the highest position the country has ever achieved in the World Cup. Chile will be one of the teams to watch out for in 2014, winning seven of their last 11 matches and losing just the one on the road to Rio.

They qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on 15 October 2013 with a win against Ecuador.