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Chile, [a] officially the Republic of Chile, [b] is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
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Chile, country situated along the western seaboard of South America. It extends approximately 2,700 miles (4,300 km) from its boundary with Peru, at latitude 17°30′ S, to the tip of South America at Cape Horn, latitude 56° S, a point only about 400 miles north of Antarctica. A long, narrow country, it has an average width of only about 110 miles, with a maximum of 217 miles at the latitude of Antofagasta and a minimum of 9.6 miles near Puerto Natales. It is bounded on the north by Peru and Bolivia, on its long eastern border by Argentina, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. Chile exercises sovereignty over Easter Island, the Juan Fernández Archipelago, and the volcanic islets of Sala y Gómez, San Félix, and San Ambrosio, all of which are located in the South Pacific. Chile also claims a 200-mile offshore limit. The capital is Santiago.
Chile’s relief is for the most part mountainous, with the Andes range dominating the landscape. Because of the country’s extreme length it has a wide variety of climates, from the coastal desert beginning in the tropical north to the cold subantarctic southern tip. Chile is also a land of extreme natural events: volcanic eruptions, violent earthquakes, and tsunamis originating along major faults of the ocean floor periodically beset the country. Fierce winter storms and flash floods alternate with severe summer droughts.
Much of northern Chile is desert; the central part of the country is a temperate region where the bulk of the population lives and where the larger cities, including Santiago, are located. South-central Chile, with a lake and forest region, is temperate, humid, and suitable for grain cultivation; and the southernmost third of the country, cut by deep fjords, is an inhospitable region—cold, wet, windy, and limited in resources. The economy of Chile is based on primary economic activities: agricultural production; copper, iron, and nitrate mining; and the exploitation of sea resources.
Chile exhibits many of the traits that typically characterize Latin American countries. It was colonized by Spain, and the culture that evolved was largely Spanish. However, appreciation for the influence of Indigenous culture has been growing. The people became largely mestizo, a blend of Spanish and Indian bloodlines. The society developed with a small elite controlling most of the land, the wealth, and the political life.
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The major landforms of Chile are arranged as three parallel north–south units: the Andes mountains to the east; the intermediate depression, or longitudinal valley, in the centre; and the coastal ranges to the west. These landforms extend lengthwise through the five latitudinal geographic regions into which the country is customarily subdivided. From north to south, with approximate boundaries, these are Norte Grande (extending to 27° S); the north-central region, Norte Chico (27° to 33° S); the central region, Zona Central (33° to 38° S); the south-central region, La Frontera and the Lake District (38° to 42° S); and the extreme southern region, Sur (42° S to Cape Horn).
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- San Pedro de Atacama. Best place to access the Atacama desert. When the green oasis of San Pedro appears on the otherwise barren horizon of the Atacama Desert it feels, at first, almost like a mirage.
- Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Best place to learn about Polynesian culture. This tiny volcanic outcrop in the middle of the vast Pacific has an outsized reputation around the world thanks to the 887 monolithic human statues (known as moai) that guard its azure shores.
- Santiago. Best place to go to a party. Chile’s frenetic capital is a cultural powerhouse whose historic center is filled with world-class museums, stately theaters and palm-lined plazas.
- Pucón. Best place to hike and ski a volcano. When it comes to adventure-filled outdoor fun, few places can match Chile's breadth of options – this woodsy resort village in Chile’s Lake District is one of South America’s most alluring adventure hubs.
Apr 16, 2024 · Chile is in the advanced stages of demographic transition and is becoming an aging society - with fertility below replacement level, low mortality rates, and life expectancy on par with developed countries. Nevertheless, with its dependency ratio nearing its low point, Chile could benefit from its favorable age structure.
Explore Chile's diverse landscapes, from the driest desert to the eternal ice, and discover its culture, history and nature. Find out how to get to Chile, where to go, what to do and what travelers recommend.
Explore Chile's nature, culture and history with Lonely Planet's expert tips and advice. Find the best time and places to visit, attractions, activities, road trips, and more.
At the time of the Spanish conquest of Chile in the mid-16th century, at least 500,000 Indigenous people inhabited the region. Nearly all of the scattered tribes were related in language, but they lacked any central governmental organization. The groups in northern Chile lived by fishing and by farming in the oases.
