Spanish 106 – Sra. Paternina – CHILE:

• Chile is located in the south western part of South America.
• Borders with:
• North: Peru and Bolivia.
• East: Argentina.
• West: Pacific Ocean.
• South: Magallanes Strait.
• In the north of the country we have the Atacama Desert which is the driest dessert in the world.
• In the south we have glaciers and frozen lakes.
• In the East-center we have the Andes Mountains which serve as border with Argentina.
• The first inhabitants of Chile were the Indians Mapuches.
• Choclo means corn in the Mapuche language and they eat “pastel de choclo” which is a meat pie topped with mashed corn.
• Santiago is the capital of the country.
• Pedro de Valdivia was the first Spaniard to arrive in Chile and founded the capital Santiago in 1541.
• In 1818 Chile got his independence from Spain.
• They have a Republic as a form of government.
• Spanish is the official language.
• The Chilean Peso is the currency.
• Chile has over 2000 volcanoes; some of them are still active.
• La Cueca is a traditional dance.
• Volatines are small kites that are use in the spring time.
• Valparaíso is the most important port in the country.
• Easter Island or Rapa Nui (probably a Mapuche name) has the famous 600 statues called Moais (also probably a Mapuche name).
• Chile is the biggest exporter of cooper in the world.
• Chile is the first country in the southern hemisphere exporting grapes.
• Two famous writers who won the literature Nobel prize:

Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral.

• Isabel Allende is also a famous Chilean writer from our times.