General Information
 Chile, which forms most of the West Coast of
South America, is almost 2,700 Miles Long –
averages 110 Miles Wide - and is about twice
the size of Montana;
 Population – Approx. 16,000,000 people;
 Capital – Santiago – Approx. 6,000,000 people;
 Chile is a Safe and Law Abiding Democracy.
If Chile were in North America, it would reach
from
KETCHIKAN to ACAPULCO !

General Information
 Since 1991, the Chilean economy (GDP) has
grown at a rate of about 5% per year;
 Chile is among the worlds largest producers
of Copper and Farmed Salmon.
 There are NO Venomous Snakes of any kind
in Chile, and virtually NO Flying / Biting
Insects;
 The Chilean Peso is pegged to the USD and
valued at about – 600 pesos/$ (Feb 2009);
 The language is Chilean Spanish; Chile’s
literacy rate is over 95%.

Easter
Island
is a
Chilean
Territory
(2,000 Miles Away!)

The Desert
The Atacama Desert is known as the
driest place on earth – 600 ft. above sea
level, and 600 miles long extending from
southern Peru into northern Chile;
Pacific ocean on the west and the Andes
Mountains on the east;
Severe earthquake area, with virtually
no vegetation;
The Atacama is rich with copper and
nitrates.

The Mountains
 The Andes Mountains include some of the
world’s highest peaks;
 More than 50 mountains over 20,000 ft. Only
the Himalayas are higher;
 Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in
the Andes at 22,834 ft;
 The Andes are the longest system of high
mountains on earth, extending for more than
5000 miles in a narrow belt along the western
edge of the South America;
 The Andes form the border between Chile and
Argentina for about 2,000 miles.

The Volcanoes
 There are 129 Volcanoes in Chile;
 36 37 38 of these - ‘Active’ since
1900;
 Chaiten and Llaima erupted in 2008;
 Chaiten erupted again in 2009.

The Volcanos

Chaiten – May 2, 2008 and Feb 19,2009

Llaima – July 2, 2008

The Rivers and Lakes
Over 300 major river systems;
 NOT including feeder streams;
 15 MAJOR rivers, each with basin areas of
over 4,000 square miles;
 Combined length of over 1,500 miles and
combined basin area of over 90,000 square
miles.
Over 200 navigable and named lakes;
 NOT including lagunas, seasonal lakes, or
glacial lakes;
 17 MAJOR lakes, each with over 40 square
miles of surface area.

The Economy
Since 1991, the Chilean economy (GDP) has
grown at a rate of about 5% per year;
Major Industries – Agriculture, Mining
(Copper and other Minerals), Livestock, Fish
Processing, Wood Products, Tourism;
Natural Resources – Water, Copper,
Timber, Iron ore, Nitrates, Precious metals,
Molybdenum.

Agriculture
- Fruit - Wheat
- Corn - Sugar Beets
- Potatoes - Grapes

Livestock
- Cattle - Sheep

Aquaculture
- Salmon - Seafood

Mining
- Copper - Other Metals

The Food
 Excellent Wines – both RED and WHITE
– World acclaimed Carmenere and Chardonnay;
 Premier supplier of Vegetables, Fruit, Lamb,
Beef, and Seafood; (Major food exporter to the U. S.)
 Pisco Sour - National Cocktail;
 Mate’ Tea - National Hospitality Drink;
 Chileno Aji – A Terrific Condiment;
 BAD Beer!

Chilean Food Pyramid
Onions
Tomatoes
Avocados
Fresh Fruit
W I N E
Sea Food
Red Meat

PATAGONIA
The
Regions

Patagonia
Patagonia is a region, made up
from all of Southern Chile and
Southern Argentina. It is about
350,000 square miles - roughly
the combined size of France,
Germany, and England.
Patagonia’s population Density
is approximately 4 people per
square mile, making it one of the
most sparsely populated regions
in the world.

Chilean
Patagonia
Region V Santiago – Capital City
Region X
Patagonia begins in Chile’s
Region XI
Region X, and at the Rio
Colorado in Argentina. It
Region XII continues south thru both
countries to Tierra del Fuego
and Cape Horn.

Northern
Chilean Patagonia
Region X
The LAKE Region

Vulcan Llaima
Population: 800,000
Density: 64 / Sq. Mi.
Information
• The Andes are the Region’s
Eastern Mountain Range;
• Capital City - Puerto Montt;
• Population – 180,000.
Land Features
• Many active volcanoes;
• Many large lakes;
• Popular vacation areas;
• Center of Salmon Farming;
Vulcan Chaiten • Fertile, farming area.

Central
Chilean Patagonia
Region XI
The RIVER Region

Population: 95,000
Density: 4 / Sq. Mi.
Information
• The Andes become a
Central and Western
Mountain Range;
• Capital City – Coyhaique;
• Population – 55,000;
Land Features
• Many Rivers and Lakes;
• Transition zone to the
Pampas area;
• Primarily Ranching;
• Multiple weather zones;
• Fishing Capital of Chile.

Southern
Chilean Patagonia
Region XII
The MAGALLANES
Region

Population: 160,000
Density: 6 / Sq. Mi.
Information
• The Andes are the Region’s
Coastal Mountain Range;
• Capital City – Punta Arenas;
• Population – 120,000.
Land Features
• Majority of Chile’s fjords,
glaciers, and islands;
• Very rugged coastal areas;
• Primarily tourist areas for
sightseeing and trekking in
National Parks;
• Severe weather changes.

Personal
Information

 For almost 60 years, I have been a serious fly
fishing devotee, with considerable experience fishing
waters in the western United States.
 Through our many trips to Chile, my friends, family,
and I have become enchanted with Chilean Patagonia and
have made many friends there. We are currently
undertaking the task of building a vacation home in
Coyhaique, Chile.
All questions, suggestions, and comments are welcomed
and appreciated.
Dean
Pierose

Also See: - Fly Fishing Chilean Patagonia – The Fishing
- Fly Fishing Chilean Patagonia – The Trip
For Further Information:
Dean Pierose
(208) 345-9185
(208) 867-5226
dpierose @ gmail.com