This document provides an overview of Chile, including its people, culture, geography, and history. Some of the key points covered include: - Important political figures that have led Chile such as Salvador Allende, Augusto Pinochet, and Michelle Bachelet. - Cultural influences from Spain and Europe on Chile's architecture, cuisine, and music. - Chile's diverse landscapes ranging from deserts to forests to glaciers along its long, narrow western coast of South America along the Andes mountains. - Chile's agricultural potential dating back to the 1500s when the Spanish established colonies, and its history of political regimes and reforms over the centuries.

1. Chile
Part 1
Brooke Soto
M. Arguello

2. People
• Carlos Ibanez del Campo - Chilean Army officer & political figure. Dictator
between 1927-31 & President from 1952-58.
• Jorge Alessandri - President of Chile from 1958-64.
• Michelle Bachelet Jeria - Socialist politician who was first woman president from
2006-2010.
• Salvador Allende - Chilean physician & first democratically elected Marxist to
become president of a country in Latin America. He was involved in Chile’s political
life over 40 years by being a member of the Socialist Party, a senator, deputy, and
cabinet minister.
• Augusto Pinochet - Commander-in-chief of the Chilean army from 1973-1998,
president of the Government Junta of Chile until elected Democratic president in
1990.

3. People
• Gabriela Mistral - 1st Chilean
to win a nobel prize for
literature (1945). Chilean
poet, educator, diplomat, &
feminist.
• The Mapuche people were the
orginial inhabitants of
southern and central Chile.
They make up about 4% of the
Chilean population.

4. Culture
• There have been many influences on Chile’s culture
from the Spanish during the Republican period, and
European influences such as English, French &
German.
• German migrants influenced the architecture and
cuisine in the south of Chile.
• Music in Chile ranges from folkloric to classical.
• The national dance is called the cueca.
• An important folk singer is Margot Loyola.
• A few rock bands were Los Jaivas, Los Prisioneros, La
Ley, and Los Tres have reached international success.

5. Culture
• Chilean cuisine reflects a • The national flower is the
variety of different food. Copihue.
• The Coat of arms shows two
• Assortments of seafood, beef, national animals: the condor &
the huemul.
fruits, and vegetables.
• An example of some common
chilean recipes include asado,
cazuela, empanadas, humitas,
pastel de choclo, pastel de
papas, curanto & sopaipillas.
• Chili is the world’s 5th largest
exporter of wine & the 8th
largest producer.

6. Geography
• Long, narrow southern cone on the west side of Andes Mountains.
• Chile stretches over 2,880 miles
• There are a variety of landscapes such as forests, volcanoes & lakes. The
southern coast contain peninsulas, canals, & islands.
• The Andes mountains are on the eastern border & Easter Island is located
within the area.
• There are seven major climatic subtypes that range from desert to glaciers
to humid subtropics to oceanic depending on which part of Chile. Chile
does have seasons, but they are quite different from our country.
• Summer (December-February), fall (March-May), winter (June-August), &
spring (September-November)

7. Geography
• The northernmost coastal & central region is lacking
vegetation, and is strictly desert.
• There are several species of cactus: hard espinos, the Chilean
pine, and the Copihue, which is Chile’s national flower.
• Southern Chile contains dense forests with various species of
conifers & beeches
• Cold temperatures & extreme winds of the south hinder the
chance for heavy forestation.
• The larger mammals that are found in Chile are pumas, llama-
like guanacos, and fox-like chillas.
• In forest regions, small deer and birds are found.
• While in water, fish, penguins, whales & seals are found.

8. History
• In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan discovered the southern passage now known as
the Strait of Magellan.
• Chile proved its agricultural potential in 1541 & became part of the Spanish
empire.
• The longest lasting of the ten governments was when Carlos Ibanez del
Campo held power for the years of 1925-1932.
• The Radicals, a middle-class party emerged in 1932, which was the key force
in coalition governments for the next 20 years.
• Radical Party dominance happened from 1932-1952 increasing Chile’s role in
the economy.

9. History
• Major reform happened under the power
of the new president Eduardo Frei
Montalva, with the slogan “Revolution in
Liberty”. Social & economic programs,
education, housing, and unionization of
agricultural workers were a few categories
under reform.
• After many decades, the chileans elected
their first female president in 2006.
• On February 27, 2010, Chile was hit by an
8.8 earthquake. 500 people died, while
hundreds of thousands of buildings were
damaged. The overall cost to repair
everything was $15-30 billion, around
10-15% of Chile’s real gross domestic
product.

10. Sources
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile