chile
Capital: Santiago
Population: 17.62 million Currency: Chilean peso President: Michelle Bachelet Official language: Spanish |
ABOUTChile is a long, narrow country stretching along South America's western edge, with 4,300km of Pacific Ocean coastline. Santiago, its capital, sits in a valley surrounded by the Andes and Chilean Coast Range mountains. The city's Plaza de Armas, founded in 1541, contains neoclassical landmarks and the National History Museum. The massive Parque Metropolitano offers swimming pools, a botanical garden and zoo.
ARTChilean art refers to all kinds of the visual art developed in Chile, or by Chileans, from the arrival of the Spanish conquerors to the modern day. It also includes the native pre-Columbian pictorial expression on modern Chilean territory.
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FOODCuranto is a traditional food of Chiloé Archipelago that has spread to the southern areas of Chile and whose remains dated back about 90 years. It is traditionally prepared in a hole, which is dug in the ground. The bottom is covered with stones, heated in a bonfire until red.
ClothesTraditional Chilean clothing consists of an elaborately decorated silk or wool chamanto or poncho, a straw hat called a chupalla and a feminine, full-skirted, flowered dress. The poncho is unique because it is reversible from dark to light.
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HISTORYThe dictator from 1830 to 1837, Diego Portales, fought a war with Peru from 1836—1839 that expanded Chilean territory. Chile fought the War of the Pacific with Peru and Bolivia from 1879 to 1883, winning Antofagasta, Bolivia's only outlet to the sea, and extensive areas from Peru. Pedro Montt led a revolt that overthrew José Balmaceda in 1891 and established a parliamentary dictatorship lasting until a new constitution
SPORTSFootball is the most popular sport in Chile, and is played for a range of reasons. However, the country's most successful sport is tennis. In rural areas, Chilean rodeo is the most practiced sport in Chile, which is the national sport, and is considered to be the second most popular sport, after football .
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