Chile: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Chile

Chile is a long, narrow country squeezed between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of South America. It runs from the dry Atacama Desert in the north to glaciers and fjords in the south. It is known for its volcanoes, star-gazing observatories and the giant statues of Easter Island.

About Santiago

Santiago lies in a wide central valley with the snowy peaks of the Andes rising to the east. It is the country's largest city, with views over the city from San Cristóbal Hill.

Fun facts about Chile

1. Chile is more than 4,000 kilometres long but on average less than 180 kilometres wide.
2. The Atacama Desert in the north is one of the driest places on Earth.
3. Easter Island, far out in the Pacific, has hundreds of giant stone statues called moai.
4. The clear, dry skies of the north make it home to some of the world's largest telescopes.
5. Ojos del Salado, on the border with Argentina, is the highest volcano in the world, at about 6,893 metres.
6. Valparaíso's historic hillside neighbourhoods are a UNESCO site with old funicular elevators that climb steep slopes.