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General
Information
Located along the
Pacific coast of South America, Chile is a long and narrow country
that is bordered by Peru in the north, Bolivia and Argentina in
the east, and the ocean in the west and the south.
With a surface area
of 756,096 square kilometers (472,569 sq. mi), Chile boasts 14.7
million inhabitants, 4.3 million of them concentrated in
the capital of the country, Santiago. 80% of the population is
urban-based.
Politically, Chile
is divided into 12 regions
plus the Metropolitan Region, and also including the Antarctic
territory.
The official language
of Chile is Spanish, and its
currency is the Chilean peso.
The people are primarily mestizo, a combination of European and
indigenous descent, and the indigenous traditions are still prevalent
in several parts of the country. Chile's literacy rate is one
of Latin America's highest at 94%. Nearly 90% of the Chileans
are Roman Catholic, but there is freedom of religious expression.
Chilean people are
friendly and hospitable to foreigners. The economy is strong and
law enforcement is trustworthy. These characteristics together
with the beautiful landscapes and well developed transportation
system make this country a very attractive destination for all
its visitors. Santiago
City
Santiago is divided into 32 districts
or "comunas", each one run by its own town council.
The central offices of banks and main government buildings are
located in downtown Santiago. Commerce is gradually heading towards
the east side of the city, to the districts of Providencia, Las
Condes and Vitacura. Most hotels, commercial, banking and entertainment
areas are located in these districts. The industrial area of Santiago
is found in the districts of Quilicura, Huechuraba and Pudahuel
to the north and northwest of the city. The south and west districts
of Santiago are predominately residential.
To
see a map of a specific address or location, please visit www.mapcity.cl
Spanish
Language
Since Spanish is the official language, Chile is the perfect country where
you can learn how to speak. There are language schools in Santiago and other
cities like Iquique, Concepción, Pucón and Puerto Montt.
You can also learn Spanish on line. Visit www.spanishprograms.com (Learn Spanish) |
Español
