A land thousands of kilometres long, but less than
200 wide. Sandwiched between the largest ocean and longest range of mountains in the world, this
country has the most extreme shape found anywhere. From the driest of deserts, through scrub,
lush temperate rainforests and finally tundra, this country has a geographic diversity to rival
any. A fusion of many European cultures and those of the native Americans, it has emerged
from centuries of colonial isolation, through independence and a brutal dictatorship to become
the most prosperous of all South American nations. Only one country could fit this
description. Only one country is Chile. Chile is the most south-westerly country in South
America, and is famous for its extreme dimensions, with the highest length to width ratio
of any country. Traversing almost 40 degrees of latitude, the country is home
to a diverse set of climates and biomes. In this presentation I’ll look first
at Chile’s history up to the present, its national organisation and state structure
and symbols, its physical and human geography, and lastly its economy and culture. If
you like these country summary videos then please be sure to hit the subscribe
button so you don’t miss future episodes. The meaning of the name of
the country is uncertain, but is almost certainly from a native
American word of either Quechua, Picunche or Mapuche origin. It was first adopted
by the Spanish conquistadores in the 16th Century. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the area
of today’s Chile was inhabited by a number of Native American tribes, the most notable being the
Mapuche. The Inca Empire centred in today’s Peru had been expanding south for several centuries
all the way up to the arrival of the Spanish. But their progress beyond the central valley
of Chile was blocked by the Mapuche tribes, who were able to resist the Incas despite the latter
being much more highly centralised as a nation. The Spanish arrived in the region in the 1530s,
and the fertile valley at the centre of today’s country was chosen as the core of the new colony,
with its capital Santiago founded in 1541. The power of the Mapuche was not to be
underestimated even against Europeans, however, as the Spanish conquest faced repeated setbacks
as a result of native attacks continuing until the end of that century. It wouldn’t be until the 19th
Century that the tribes were finally subjugated. Isolated from the rest of South America
by the Atacama desert in the north, the Andes all along the east, and from the
mother country Spain due to its Pacific orientation beyond the straits of Magellan, the
Chilean colony became the most self-sufficient and autonomous of all Spanish possessions
in the Americas for the next few centuries. The Napoleonic Wars of Europe that began at the
end of the 18th Century saw Spain becoming a puppet regime of the French. Seeing this weakness,
local elites saw an opportunity to wrest control of the colony from Spain, as did all the other
colonies within the Spanish American Empire at that time. Initially these elites were resisting
the French puppet king, Napoleon’s brother Joseph, and supportive of the deposed king’s heir, but as
events across South America progressed, with many nations now proclaiming full independence from
Spain, it was inevitable that Chile would follow suit, and so in 1818, after a prolonged struggle
with Spain, and despite disputes between the key patriots of Carrera and O’Higgins, Chile was
proclaimed an independent republic. Unlike the United States of America’s War of Independence
against the British that saw a genuine revolution in favour of the rights and opportunities of
the lower classes, Chile’s independence saw little change in the fortunes of the majority,
with the landowning elites maintaining political control of the country. In this regard, it was
similar to most of Latin America at this time. As the 19th Century progressed, Chile sought
to expand its territory. The Mapuche to the south were finally incorporated in a twenty year
campaign that ended in 1883, while the Chilean Navy, the most powerful in South America, allowed
the country to dominate the South-Eastern Pacific. To the north, Bolivia had control of the Atacama
region through to the coast, while Peru was Chile’s greatest rival over dominance of the
Pacific. Matters in this region came to head in the War of the Pacific of 1879-1883, with Chile’s
military on land and sea showing its superiority, defeating both Peru and Bolivia to take control
of the Atacama and its rich mineral deposits, and more-or-less establish the borders of today.
Bolivia’s loss of access to the Pacific resulted in it becoming a landlocked country, and would
seriously impact that nation’s future development. Due to its isolation beyond the straits
of Magellan, Chile did not witness the mass-immigration from Europe that other nations
such as Brazil and Argentina experienced in the latter half of the 19th and early 20th Centuries.
However, it is notable that a significant settlement of Germans in the South of the country
occurred at this time, and these immigrants would go on to influence the country through
their organization and training of the army. Trade was chiefly with Britain during this
time, and shared knowledge with that country helped to strengthen the Chilean Navy, while
the boom in saltpeter mining in the north of the country had many British backers. The French
immigrants influenced much of the architectural styles of the buildings of the capital, while the
earlier immigration of Basques was significant, resulting in 27% of Chilean surnames being of
Basque origin at the end of the 18th Century. The 20th Century saw Chile stabilise
its geographic and economic position, while politically the growing middle
and lower classes gained more influence, reducing the power of the landowning classes
that had dominated for centuries prior. Apart from a period of dictatorship in the
1920s, there were democratically elected governments during this time. However, as
socialist parties grew in power in the 1960s, a period of political polarisation that had
tragic consequences unfolded. The socialist Salvador Allende was elected president in 1970
and introduced a series of radical socialist programs that led to an economic crisis and
protests from foreign investors at the threat of nationalisation of key industries
including the important copper mines. President Nixon of the United States then
authorised the CIA to infiltrate the country in an attempt to destablise the government with
the intent of removing Allende from office and replacing him with someone more favourable to
their interests, much in the way that they had done in Iran in 1953 and more recently in
a certain Eastern European country in 2014. The US got what they wanted. In 1973 Allende
was ousted and killed. The coup was led by General Augusto Pinochet, Commander in
Chief of the Armed Forces at that time. The coup was the beginning of 17 years of rule by
Pinochet, in which, the economy was stablised and then grew, but at the cost of serious abuses in
human rights. Upwards of 40,000 dissidents were rounded up, imprisoned, tortured or “disappeared”.
Despite honouring the result of a referendum in 1990 to resign as the country’s head, he continued
to influence Chilean politics up until his death in 2006. To this day he remains one of the most
notorious dictators in recent global history. The country transitioned from dictatorship
to democracy between 1990 and 94, with governments being democratically elected
since, although the relationship between populace and government continues to be tense until
this day. A series of nationwide protests occurred between 2019-20 while an attempt to
revise the 1980 constitution, which among other matters would remove some of the undemocratic
aspects of the Pinochet era was overwhelmingly rejected by the populace in a referendum just a
few months ago, as it was seen to be too radical. Chile has a bicameral congress, composed of a
50-seat Senate and 155-member Chamber of Deputies. Senators are elected for 8-year terms
while deputies are elected every 4 years, in a system similar to
Proportional Representation. The congress is situated in the port of
Valparaiso and not the capital Santiago. The head of state is the President, elected
directly by the public to serve a four year term. The office can only be filled by the same
person twice but not across two consecutive terms. In the latest Cato Institute’s Human Freedom
Index, compiled from data up to 2019, the transition to accountable rule following
the Pinochet years is confirmed, with Chile being the highest ranked in Latin America for both
economic and personal freedom, and a respectable ranking of 28th most free country globally.
Chile is a unitary state, with the central government determining law throughout the
country. For the purposes of administration, the country is divided into 16 regions, which are
further split into 56 provinces, the equivalent of counties, and 348 communes, which
are the equivalent of municipalities. The Chilean national flag is composed of white
and red bands with a single star centered in a blue field top left. Blue represents the sky,
white the snow of the Andes, red the blood spilled to achieve independence, and the star to symbolise
progress and honour. The flag was adopted in 1817, 21 years prior to the well-known flag of
Texas to which it has great similarity. The coat of arms contains the colours and elements
of the flag in a central shield supported by a south andean deer known as a huemal, and
a condor, the world’s largest flying bird, with a range throughout the Andes. The motto
translated means “by reason or by force”. Chile is one of the most remarkable countries
in the world geographically. As any child who begins to study geography through an atlas knows,
one of the first things they’ll notice is that almost impossibly thin looking country hanging
onto most of the western edge of South America. Chile is second only to Brazil as the tallest of
all countries with a north-south extent of 4,300 km (2,670 mi). But sandwiched in a narrow coastal
strip between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Chile is comparatively extremely narrow,
with an average width of only 175 km (109 mi). Such an extremity of dimension can be seen
when one considers the time it would take to traverse the country. Travelling east-west
at its widest point in the northern Atacama, the journey of 469km would take around
only 6 hours by road. In contrast, the 4,000 km plus road journey from the extreme
north to as far as one could travel in the south, which is still not the bottom of Chile, would
take over a week if travelling 8 hours a day! Why is this country so long and thin? Well there
are two reasons. The first is the Andes mountain range. It is the longest and second highest in the
world, and so historically, prior to air travel, crossing these mountains was difficult, with the
consequence of a lack of ability of a government to project power over such a range. For most of
their length, only Argentina offers a rival power, and in that country, most of the population
was focused in the north, with the south, that is, Patagonia, being a largely uninhabited
desert. In the north, where Chile borders with Peru and Bolivia, the mountains are not as
steep, and so this was more of a contentious area for claims of sovereignty between these
countries, as we saw in the section on history. The second reason is the proximity of the
Pacific Ocean to the mountains. Prior to air travel, the quickest and most efficient way of
transporting goods and people was by ship. And so, Chile, with access to thousands of kilometres of
coast, was easily able to project its power north and south through its navy and commercial
fleet. Crossing the Andes, by comparison, was a Herculean task, and so we have the extremely
long and narrow country of today as a result. The reason for such a long chain of mountains
being right up against an ocean can be explained in geology. The Nazca tectonic plate, expanding
outwards, hits the South American plate and at this boundary is pushed down under
it in a process known as subduction. This process has been going on for millions
of years, and over such time has led to the buckling of the South American plate,
as well as the formation of volcanoes, to create the Andes mountains. As the Nazca plate
is pushed down, it creates a deep ocean trench directly off the coast, and so, in profile, the
country of Chile consists of a deep ocean, coast, a relatively low coastal range of mountains,
a narrow plain and then very tall mountains. But this geological situation has another
consequence, and that is heightened tectonic activity. Subduction zones have historically
produced the largest earthquakes, and Chile, being the site of a long and continuous
subduction of the Nazca under the South American plate accounts for a third of the
twenty most powerful earthquakes in history. The Valvidia earthquake of 1960 in the southern
part of Chile was estimated to be as high as 9.6 on the Richter scale, and is the largest to
have ever been recorded anywhere. As well as causing thousands of fatalities within the region
from the shaking and resulting tsunami, that wave travelled across the Pacific, devastating the city
of Hilo, Hawaii and killing 61 people there, and reached as far as Japan where fatalities were also
reported. Subduction zones also produce volcanoes, and Chile is home to 19 active mounts, with
most occurring in the south of the country. Spanning 4,300km north to south, Chile
covers a remarkable band of latitudes, from 17 degrees south of the equator at
its top, to 56 degrees south at its base. Consequently a wide number of climate zones
and resultant biomes are found in the country. In the far north we have the driest of
all deserts, the Atacama. The rainfall is so low here that some weather stations have
reported none falling for 25 years or more. There are two reasons why this area is so dry.
The first of these is that the Andes mountains, rising above 6,300m (20,000 feet) to the
east, block almost all of the moist trade winds that blow down in a south-westerly
direction from the equator during summer. In the absence of these mountains, the northern
region of Chile would have experienced a rainy season during the summer typical of such a
latitude. But the Andes prevent this wet season. The second factor is the presence of the Humboldt
ocean current, which brings cold water up from the mid-latitudes of the Pacific all the way to
the equator via the coast of Chile and Peru. The presence of this cold ocean means that
any winds blowing in from the Pacific have little moisture, and moving onto warmer land, any
moisture is retained in the warming air as vapour. As we move south, it takes a considerable
distance before we encounter any noticeable rain, in this the central part of Chile. Here we
find a Mediterranean climate of warm dry summers and wet winters. All the rain comes
off the Pacific through winter westerly winds and storms as a result of the northward
drift of high pressure over the ocean. In summer time, the high pressure travels south,
blocking any depressions and keeping the area dry. This Mediterranean climate produces
scrub-like conditions as a natural biome, but in the highly densely populated region is
now mostly given over to productive farmland. Since 2010, there has been an exceptional
drought affecting much of Chile, but particularly this densely populated central
zone. A persistent high pressure over the Eastern Pacific for the last decade has reduced normal
annual rain by as much as 80% in this area. As we continue south, the summer high pressure
zones lose their influence, and so rain is found year round in this Oceanic climate zone. Because
the wet Pacific winds meet the Andes mountains as soon as they reach land, the air is pushed upward
and cooled, leading to almost all of its moisture being deposited before passing into the desert
of Patagonia on the other side. Consequently Southern Chile sees some of the highest rainfall
in the world outside of the tropics. And this much rain leads to highly verdant conditions in the
form of temperate rainforests of beech, laurel, cedar and the national tree Araucaria, also
known as the Chilean Pine or Monkey Puzzle. In general this region, so isolated from the
rest of the world from similar climate types, is home to many species of plants
and animals not found anywhere else. As we approach the southern
tip of Chile, the land breaks up into an extensive array of fjords and
islands, the results of past glaciations. In this region, and in the higher ground
within the previous zone, the Oceanic climate gives way to a sub-polar form of this
climate, of cool summers instead of warm, and eventually to a mild tundra climate where summer
day/night temperatures remain below 10 celsius, preventing the growth of trees, leading to a
barren landscape of low-lying shrubs and grass. The word “mild” is used to describe this tundra
climate, not because it is especially pleasant, but to contrast it with the severe winters
found in the traditional tundra of the Arctic. Here, in Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost extent
of South America, the ever-present ocean winds keep winter temperatures mostly above freezing.
Such winds, known as the roaring forties and furious fifties, were the bane of any ship
“rounding the horn”, that is traversing the waters at the extreme southern point of Chile
and the continent of South America, Cape Horn. Prior to the building of the Panama Canal,
any ship travelling from the Atlantic to the Pacific had to brave these treacherous
waters, and the area has gone down in global maritime history as one of the most infamous.
Last but not least, a word on Rapa Nui. The fascination of this, one the most isolated
inhabited islands in the world, and its pre-Columbian history of massive stone heads,
resource depletion and ecological collapse would take up a video in itself. The Chileans call the
island Isla de Pascua, literally Easter Island. It was annexed by Chile in 1888 and is
administered today as its own autonomous commune within the Valparaiso Region. It is just
over 3,500 km (2,182 miles) from the mainland. Chile’s population at the time of this
video is estimated at eighteen and a half million (18,430,408), making it the 66th
most populous nation in the world. Most of this population is found in the central part of Chile,
from where the country expanded historically, with 40% - about 7 million people - living within
the greater metro area of the capital Santiago. The second largest city is the historical port
of Valparaiso, just 90 minutes by road from the capital, and whose metro area numbers
about 1 million in population. Concepcion, some 6 hours drive south is the third
largest city with just under 1 million. Although there is no official language
within Chile, the de-facto is Spanish, spoken by virtually all its inhabitants, and used
in official government documents. It is the result of its original foundation as a colony of Spain
and the centuries of its establishment prior to the immigrants of other European countries
settling here. The dialect is noticeably different from other countries within South America, perhaps
due to its relative isolation of the preceding centuries, or the influence of significant numbers
of later immigrants speaking different languages. Many native American languages have survived, with
the greatest number being of the Mapuche people. Like all Latin American countries, the
population of Chile is a mix of European and Amerindian. What proportions self-identify
as, or are independently estimated to be “white” meaning European-only descent, Mestizo (mixed
race) or Amerindian varies by survey. But the surveys suggest 50-60% as white, 30-40%
mestizo and less than 10% Amerindian. Chile’s economy stands out in many ways. With an
estimated GDP in nominal terms of $310 billion US dollars in 2022, the country’s economy ranks as
the 45th largest in the world. Split among its relatively small population, this produces the
highest GDP per capita in all of Latin America. It is one of the lowest tax economies within
the OECD group of developed countries and has consistently ranked as a business-friendly country
while also having the lowest income inequality index within Latin America. The economy has grown
rapidly since the start of the 1980s, being now five times larger than it was four decades ago.
In 1980, Chile introduced the world’s first private national pension scheme, watched by many
eyes within the developed world. For decades the the success of this scheme, which outperformed
traditional state pension schemes other nations, was seen as a model to follow. But in the
last 15 years or so, the scheme has required reform as global yields within markets have
reduced in that era of low interest rates. The largest sector within the Chilean economy
is mining, with the world’s largest reserves of copper located in the north of the country. Chile
produces almost a third of all the world’s copper, is the largest producer of iodine, and the
world’s second highe st in lithium and molybdenum. The Chilean mining industry made international
news in 2010 when 33 miners were trapped almost a kilometre underground for 69 days. Despite
incredible odds, all 33 were rescued, one at a time, within a specially made capsule hoisted
through a borehole drilled from the surface. Fishing in the deep, rich waters of the Eastern
Pacific is found in all inhabited coastal regions, with many fish exported - you’ve all probably
seen Chilean Sea Bass on the menu somewhere. Agriculture within the central part
of the country is an important sector, with the Meditteranean climate in this
region favouring the growth of grapes. Chilean wines have become well
respected and popular around the world. With a business-friendly environment, the
service sector and in particular, finance, has grown substantially in recent decades
to become a major sector within the economy. Another key service sector is tourism. Despite
its remoteness from the world, the country, with its vast array of unspoiled habitats
attracts several million tourists each year. Chilean culture is, like all those of Latin
America, a blend of European and Native American cultures, with Spanish dominating
the European and Mapuche the native side. Basque, German, British, Croatian, Arab,
Palestinian and French influences can be observed as a result of later waves of
immigration from their respective countries. Chile has had two Noble Prize for Literature
winners – poets Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral. Chile has also had a fair share of
notable novelists including José Donoso and Isabel Allende. In cinema,
Alejandro Jodorowsky established a cult following with his avant garde works
in the 1960s and 1970s, including a 14-hour epic screenplay of Frank Herbert’s
classic sci-fi Dune… that was never made. Chile’s most internationally famous
star, however, is probably Pedro Pascal, notable for his role in Game of Thrones
and the lead in The Mandalorian and Narcos. The Atacama desert is not only the source of
Chile’s greatest wealth in the form of mines, but is the site of one of the world’s greatest
scientific riches. The constantly cloudless sky, coupled with very stable atmosphere, no nearby
light pollution from cities and high altitude make this location possibly the best in
the world for astronomical observations. And so it is here that we find the largest
number of modern world class telescopes, operated by international and
domestic scientific institutions. Chile’s greatest cultural treasure is,
in my opinion, the beauty and diversity of the country’s nature. That said,
I believe a special mention should be made of the UNESCO world heritage site
of the Historic Quarter of Valparaiso. The architecture in this area is unlike any
other, demonstrating the fusion of European cultures that participated in the port’s growth
in the late 19th Century, and in microcosm, could represent the story of this, the
most remote of all continental nations. And that’s Chile. I hope you enjoyed this
presentation of its history, geography, economy and culture. Please like and share this
video if you enjoyed it or found it useful, and please let me know your thoughts in the
comments, especially if you’re from this country, and if I missed out anything you feel is
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