About Chile

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile (Spanish: República de Chile is a South American country occupying a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. Chilean territory includes the Pacific islands of Juan Fernández, Salas y Gómez, Desventuradas, and Easter Island in Oceania. Chile also claims about 1,250,000 square kilometers (480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica, although all claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.

Chile is a country of startling contrasts and extreme beauty, with attractions ranging from the towering volcanic peaks of the Andes to the ancient forests of the Lake District. There are a multitude of very good parks here, and plenty of opportunities for fine adventure travel. Chile is justly famous as the location of Torres del Paine, considered by many to be the finest nature travel destinations in all of South America.

Capital
and largest city
Official languages
Spanish
 
Legislature
 
 
 
18 September 1810 
 
Declared
12 February 1818 
 
Recognized
25 April 1844 
 
11 September 1980 
 
Total
756,096.3 km2 (38th)
291,930.4 sq mi
 
Water (%)
1.07b
 
2014 estimate
17,819,054[2] (62nd)
 
2012 census
16,341,929[3]
 
Density
24/km2 (194th)
61/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2014 estimate
 
Total
$410,277 billion[4] (42rd)
 
Per capita
$23,165[4] (53th)
GDP (nominal)
2014 estimate
 
Total
$264.095 billion[4] (38th)
 
Per capita
$14,911[4] (49th)
Gini (2011)
positive decrease 50.3[5]
high
HDI (2013)
Increase 0.822[6]
very high · 41st
Currency
Time zone
CLT and EASTc(UTC−4 and −6)
 
Summer (DST)
CLST and EASST (UTC−3 and −5)
Drives on the
right

Where is Chile located?

Chile Consulate

A coastal country located in the southwest region of South America, Chile has an area of 756,950 square kilometers (292,258 square miles) and a total coastline of 6,435 kilometers (3,998 miles). Chile shares its northern border with Peru and its eastern border with Bolivia and Argentina. Comparatively, the area occupied by Chile is nearly twice the size of California. Chile's capital city, Santiago, is located at the country's latitudinal mid-point. By bus, Santiago is approximately 1.5 hours inland from the Pacific Ocean and 1.5 hours west of the Andes Mountains foothills. From its northern border to its southernmost tip, Chile covers a diverse geographic array. In the north is the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth, while the southern tip points towards the polar ice of Antarctica.