Chile is located on the west coast of South America and is uniquely shaped, surrounded by the Andes Mountains. It has a diverse geography including desert in the north, glaciers in the southeast, and Mediterranean climate in central Chile. Around 10,000 years ago, Native Americans settled in Chile's fertile valleys and coastal areas. In the 15th century, the Incas and Spanish explored and conquered parts of Chile, though the Mapuche people resisted domination for centuries. Today, Chile has a population of around 15 million people, most of whom live in urban areas, and Chileans have a strong cultural identity as a "country of poets."

1. ChileMichael CrawfordHistory 141

2. Chile GeographyChile is located on the west coast of South America.Chile is one of the most uniquely shaped territories.Chile is also surrounded by the Andes Mountain chain the stretches on east border.

3. Chile GeographyChile is extremely diverse geographically.Chile is host to atleast seven major climate subtypes.Desert in the NorthAlpine Tundra's & Glaciers in the South EastHumid Subtropical on Easter IslandMediterranean in Central Chile

4. Chilean History10,000 years ago migrating Native Americans settled in present day Chile for its fertile valleys and coastal areasBeing surrounded by virtually 3 impassable barriers it remained unknown until the 15th centuryIncas extended their empire into northern Chile during their conquest though most of the continent.Incas were stopped by the Mapuche despite their un-organizationIn 1541 Pedro de Valdivia and his Spanish army marched into Mapuche domain and successfully obtained strongholds.

5. Chilean HistoryFor the next 400 years the Spanish opened trade directly with Peru.Chile gained independence from Spain in 1817 after seven years of warfare.Remaining Mapuches to the south which remained independent from Spain and also resisted the new Chilean GovernmentDue to modern Artillery Mapuche held their ground until the middle of the century when they became out numbered.

6. Chilean PeopleIn a 2002 census 70% of Chileans said they were Roman Catholic

7. Chile DemographicsApproximately 15,000,000Population is decreasing since 1990 bcause of the declining birth rate.85% of population lives in urban areas.

8. Chilean CultureChileans call their country país de poetaswhich means Country of Poets.Gabriela Mistral was first Chilean to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1945.Her poems are about nature, betrayal, love and sorrow.

9. Chilean CultureMost famous poet from Chile was Pablo Neruda who also won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971.Pablo Neruda is considered one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.His style of writing ranged from erotically charged love poems , surrealist poems, historic epics and overtly political manifestos.

10. Sourceshttp://www.geographia.com/chile/chilehistory.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile