Chile
Capital
Santiago
Population
~19.5 million
Currency
Chilean Peso (CLP)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- Spanish
- Religion
- Christianity (Catholic, Protestant)
- Climate
- Varied; arid in the north, Mediterranean in the center, and temperate in the south
Culture & History
Known for: its long narrow shape, the Atacama Desert, and wine production
Also famous for: the Andes Mountains, Patagonia, and copper mining
Food: Empanadas (savory pastries)
Brief History
Spanish colony; gained independence in 1818; relatively stable politically and economically; significant copper reserves