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Chile is in the southwest part of America. Its location is one of the most southerly, while its continental extension reaches 4,300 kilometers, making a wide variety of climates and therefore landscapes.
Its triple condition means that the Chilean state has sovereignty over territories located in three continents. Thus continental Chile, located in South America, is emplaced between 17 º 30 'and 56 º 30' south latitude and is aligned around 70 degrees west longitude. Its maximum width is at 52 º 21 'south latitude, in the Strait of Magellan, and reaches 445 km, while its minimum width is found at 31 º 37' south latitude, between tip and step Amolanas Stone House, covering only 90 km.
The portion of our country called Chile island consists of the Juan Fernandez archipelago, oceanic islands San Felix and San Ambrosio, Salas y Gomez and Easter Island. The latter is located nearly 3,700 km distant from the continent, as part of Oceania.
Finally, after the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, Chile exercises sovereignty over a portion of Antarctica, this is the largest land area of the country, reaching 1,250,000 km2, and is a triangular projection of continental Chile to the South Pole. It is located exactly between 53 and 90 degrees west longitude and between 60 and 90 degrees south latitude.
Overall, the surface of the country, considering the three portions of territory, American, Antarctic and island, reaches 2,006,626 km2. If we draw a line from the border with Peru to the South Pole, this is over 8,000 km.
Its nearly 17 million inhabitants has an average human development index, GDP per capita, level of economic growth and quality of life, which are among the highest in Latin America.
The Republic of Chile is a democratic unitary state, presidential character, composed of several autonomous institutions. The country is governed by the Constitution of the Republic of Chile, adopted on 11 September 1980 during the military regime and has been amended nine times but without changes to the fundamental bases sustaining the State and the Chilean nation.
The executive branch or, more properly, the government and public administration, is headed by the President of the Republic, who is head of state and government. Since March 2006, this position is held by Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Socialist Party member, member of the Concertación. According to the Constitution, the president is in office for four years without being able to be reelected for the next period.
The Judiciary is made up by courts, autonomous and independent, and has the Supreme Court as its highest institution. In addition, there is an independent hierarchical public prosecutor.
Legislative power is vested in Congress, a bicameral character, which is composed of:
The Senate consists of 38 senators elected by popular vote to remain in office for 8 years, with the possibility of being reelected. Every 4 years, half of the staff of Senators in the regular parliamentary elections.
The Chamber of Deputies, consisting of 120 members elected by popular vote last 4 years in office and can be elected in their respective districts, which elects two deputies for each election, which renews the entire House.
The two major political blocs are the Concertación (center left) and the Alianza por Chile (right center), and other minority movements without parliamentary representation.
Source: Icarito
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Chile in the World
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Flag
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| National Emblem |
Total Population |
Ranking 60º |
Total |
16.928.873 (2009 est.) |
Density |
22,18 per/km² |
GDP (nominal) |
Ranking 47º |
Total (2008) |
USD 169.573 million |
GDP per head |
USD 10.124 |
GDP (PPP) |
Ranking 44º |
Total (2008) |
USD 243.044 millon |
PIB per cápita |
USD 14.510 |
HDI (2008) |
0,874 (40º) – High |
Currency |
Chilean Peso ($, CLP) |
Inhabitan of Chile |
Chileno, -a |
Internet Domain |
.cl |
Area Code |
56 |
Capital |
Santiago of Chile |
Population (cap.) |
5.428.590 (2002) |
Largest City |
Santiago of Chile |
Oficial Language |
Spanish |
Form of Goverment |
Democratic Presidential Republic |
President |
Sebastián Piñera Echenique |
Independence |
From Spain |
National Junta |
September 18th of 1810 |
Declaration |
February 12th of 1818 |
Surface |
Ranking 38º |
Total |
756.626 km² |
% water |
1,07% |
Borders |
6.171 km |
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