Chile is one of the most exciting countries which you could learn about in the whole world. It is situated in the Western part of South America. Chile is also known to be the closest country to the coldest region of planet earth named Antarctica. The country of Chile has a total of more than 17 million people. It shares its borders with most of the reputed countries like Peru, Argentina, and even Bolivia, with whom it also shares its cultural values too.

In addition to this, the country also controls several islands in the pacific ocean such as Desventuradas and Juan Fernandez. It has a beautiful capital named Santiago. The whole country is filled with a lot of fun. For instance, it is the first country to have such a large beach space due to its extended coastline. These are only some of the most basic facts about Chile that you could ever know. There are a lot of other interesting ones too. Let us dive into the exciting interesting side of Chile in this article without any further adieu.

1) Facts about Chile

1.1) Chile is the Longest Country to ever exist

One of the most interesting facts about Chile is that it is the longest country in the whole world. The structure of Chile is so long that it covers the major coastline of South America. The whole coastline goes up to 26oo+ miles when measured. It is longer than in other countries out there.

Countries like the United Nations and even the world’s largest country, China, are bigger in their structures. Their body is humongous, making them pretty large than the other countries. But none can beat Chile when it comes to the length. 2600 Miles is a record-worthy length for a country with a normal population.

1.2) Chileans Have a Good Relationship with Basketball

The people of Chile have a lot of hobbies with which to fidget. They are among the most involved people with the ocean pacific due to the country’s presence near the world’s largest ocean. However, besides their work and hobbies, most Chileans love to play and watch basketball. It is normal for us to see increased activity in Basketball in the country of the United States.

But it is fascinating to finally witness basketball in a South American country like Chile. To make this more interesting, the Chilean team even won a bronze medal in the FIBA World Championship in 1950. They were also the hosting country of the FIBA World Championship for women 3 years after the year of their victory. It was the first basketball Championship for women at that time.

1.3) Tennis is quite Popular in Chile

Tennis is an exciting sport, to be honest. The ball being thrashed from one side to the other and the players trying to get the ball flying and not falling into their courts with their utmost effort is one of the most thrilling events which get you to sit on the tip of your chair. It gets your adrenaline rushing, by just watching it. This adrenaline rush is also welcomed by a lot of Chileans. The country of Chile showed its association and love for the sport during the year 1976 when it competed in the Davis Cup.

Italy was its Prime competitor at that particular time. Since then, the whole country has been showing its love and appreciation by getting involved in a lot of tennis events. Their participation in these events never failed to attain world-class attention. They have a reputed name in this sport. Chileans are the ones to win the World team cup in the year 2003. Anita Lizana of Chile was the first woman to win in the many years before.

1.4) Football, The love of the People

The sport of Football is one of the most followed sports worldwide. To prove this, we have the World Cup which takes place once every four years. Chileans are die-hard fans of football. They have a huge following with heavy dedication. The country is filled with a lot of football clubs owning talented and skilled youngsters in the sport.

Even women are being encouraged to join the noble cause of making football great and popular in the country. The month of June and July will turn the entire place into a festive season due to it becoming one of the most-celebrated countries in the world during the FIFA World Cup season. The country has a well-reputed soccer team which has been the house of prominent players such as Alexis Sanchez and Gary Medal.

Some of the most important matches, which were even considered a rivalry within the sport were during the Chiles match with its closest neighbors such as Argentina and Peru. Chile has participated in more than 9 FIFA matches currently. It also has a well-established presence in the Copa America and Pan America cups which are held regularly every year.

1.5) Food of Chile has an Infusion of the European Style

Most of the Cuisine provided in the country of Chile has a European style attached to it. It is one of the famous countries in Latin America which has a cuisine style infused with the far distant Europeans. Chile has some of the most authentic dishes which speak out of the nature of Chile just by seeing it. Some of such signature dishes of the country include Asado, which surely isn’t your basic barbeque.

We have something called the Cazuela, which is known to have a soupy texture with a mouth-watering combo that includes salted corn, chicken, and carrot as well. And we have the famous Empanadas, which are literal blessings that are filled with a lot of pastry and sweet fillings.

There are a lot of tasty dishes which are purely native to the lands of Chile. But still, the cooking method and even some of the styles like adding beef, onion, garlic, mayonnaise, and even yogurt have given a big hint that the traditional cooking has been influenced by the European style as well. Chile’s dishes are some of the best in the whole of Latin America.

1.6) Chile has been the Home of some of the Prominent Poets of History

The country of Chile is famous for a lot of things. But it is less known about the fact that it was also one of the prominent providers of fine and quality literature experts in this modern world. The famous poet named Miss Gabriela Mistral received the Nobel prize in Literature for her works in the field of the Chilean language and for being a splendid Chilean poet pouring out messages and ideas through her texts during the early years of the 1930s.

The land of Chile was also the house of another key person of literature known as Pablo Neruda. The man was a poet and was also a senator of the country since the 1950s. Pablo Neruda also won the Nobel prize for literature after getting his works translated and published worldwide. Like these people, a lot of skilled literature lovers are being sheltered by the country of Chile.

1.7) Chile is also one of the Most-Visited Countries in the World

Chile stands as one of the most visited countries in the whole world, especially in the region of South America. The country has a lot of attractions for tourists to come by. It is also land that shares a lot of traditional and cultural values as well. The culture of Latin America is exhibited in the prominent regions of Southern Chile, as well as in some portions of northern Chile as well.

The country has also attracted a lot of attractions since its recognition as the Guinness world record holder for being the longest country in existence. In addition to this, we have a town in central Chile called San Pedro de Atacama which is one of the most attention-drawing locations in the whole country. Tons and tons of people visit the location just to experience the unique ambiance. It is a desert town which has a very beautiful feel as well. It houses several view spots from where you can witness the beauty of the dry lands with the spectacular Andes mountains situated far from there.

The Andes mountains are one of the longest mountain ranges on our planet. Another prominent example of Chile’s tourist attractions is Easter Island which is located in the south-eastern Pacific. The island has a lot of stories as well. The country of Chile has a lot of other attractions such as the Chungara Lake, Pompey, and Parinacota volcanoes. All these places in Chile make it the best place to explore.

Marble Caves of Patagonia is one of the stunning natural wonders in Chile. The Icy Tales team talked to Matthew Appleton, E-Commerce Manager at Appleton Sweets, on this. Here is what he had to say:

“Exploring the Marble Caves of Patagonia has been a truly captivating experience for me, drawing me in with their breathtaking natural beauty and intriguing geological features.

What I find most fascinating is the unique formation of these caves, shaped over millions of years by the relentless forces of water, wind, and time. 

The swirling patterns and vibrant hues of the marble rock formations, created by mineral deposits and the play of light, have left an indelible impression on me.

Immersing myself in the Marble Caves has provided a firsthand encounter with the intricate geological processes that sculpted these wonders, deepening my understanding and appreciation of the natural world. 

By witnessing the sheer magnificence and intricate details of these caves, I’ve gained a deeper insight into the dynamic geological forces that have shaped our planet’s history, fostering a profound connection to the marvels of nature.”

1.8) Chile has a very Good Future associated with Green Energy

The country of Chile is also one of the greenest planets. It is working towards the goal of attaining alternative methods of energy, which focus on reducing the usage of fossil fuels, which is much needed in today’s world. The usage of fossil fuels has a lot of negative effects, which are usually subliminal.

We won’t be affected by it currently, but we will surely be affected by it shortly. Thus, smart countries like Chile have taken this early warning signal and are currently working on becoming a green country, which produces all of their energy through renewable means. One of the interesting facts about Chile is the house of Cerro Pabellon, the first geothermal plant in South America. Investors around the world are approaching the country of Chile to develop it into a greener entity.

In addition to these facts, Chile also owns the largest solar farm in the entire country, known as the El Romero Solar Plant. The country is self-reliant when it comes to energy. Chile is currently aiming to become one of the greenest examples in the whole wide world.

1.9) The country of Chile also has a Well-established Communications Industry

Chile and its people are one of the most advanced communities in the field of Communication. The whole country of Chile currently has over 3.5 Million phone lines in use. The number of phone lines stated before only comprises of the Northern Chile region. This number could grow a lot shorter. It is because Chile hasn’t reached its ultimate caliber in the field of technology.

It has a lot of room for improvement as well. In addition, the country also has very well-established and functioning radio and satellite services. The Communication network of Chile doesn’t stop with the country alone. The network extends further and even runs through some prominent regions of Antarctica and to some of the well-populated islands in the Pacific Ring.

1.10) Chile is a Prime Mining Location

This is one of the interesting facts about Chile. The country was heavily involved in the activities of Mining. The land of Chile is naturally rich in Nitrate. Nitrates are intermediary products which are can be used to create a lot of end products like fertilizers and Gun powder.

The country was one of the most important exporters of the Intermediary product to other countries. It saw a pleasurable welcome from high-scale farming companies. But soon, the dangerous side of the play started to unravel and the country started seeing demand for gun powders from various regions around the world. Especially during the time of War.

The country was doing well and importantly, the Chilean economy started to boom very much. But soon, the economy started to see a decline due to the new invention of the Germans, a certain technique used to synthesize Ammonia, a powerful substitute the Nitrate which was heavily exported to other countries by Chile. The country is also rich in copper.

In addition to this, the country of Chile exported a lot of Gold and Silver during the years of 1970s. There is stable growth in the export market of such commodities even now. But coming to the interesting part, Chile is a country that is also rich in Lithium. Thus, it saw a huge demand when there was a rise in technological trends. It consisted of buying more electronic products which frequently required batteries to be charged. Chile was the top-most producer of lithium at that time. These were some of the ways Chile earned a fortune.

1.11) Chile is a Country Rich in the Fishing Sector

Chile owns one of the longest coastlines which ever exists on earth. So by default, it has access to a lot of coastal cities which are actively involved in the sector of fishing and other related marine activities. Isla Negra is one such prominent coastal city that is involved in the fishing sector.

The coastlines also act as primary attractions for a lot of tourists as well. But they will stay as the Number one spot for the Chileans to access the great Pacific Ocean, which unlocks a lot of opportunities for the ones who are interested to earn their living from something associated with the oceans. An interesting fact about Chile is that it is the second largest producer of Salmon fish in the whole world.

The Chilean Government has also helped its fishing sector to attain a lot of financial and technological advancements. It is because a lot can be achieved in the fishing sector by a country that is known to hold the largest coastline in the world. Investors are pouring in currently to upscale various fishing industries located on the coastlines, hoping for a positive movement in the growth rate of Chile’s fishing sector.

1.12) The Chilean Army is Powerful

Chile is one of the favorite chilling spots for a lot of peace-loving travelers. But it is rarely known that Chile also owns a powerful army that could turn a lot of other countries upside down when it comes to threatening and self-defense. The Chilean army is purely motivated to defend the country. The offense was never an option to the whole country throughout its history of feuds and rivalries.

The country of Chile is known to have an estimated amount of over 80000 Men and Women waiting firsthand to protect their nation through all means and sources necessary. They are ready on land, they stand ready in the oceans and they have their visions and targets set up even from the sky. The Chilean army is one of the most powerful defensive entities on the planet.

The country owns advanced aircraft and warships. Chile has also invested in Military and other necessary defense technologies as well. Chile is a country that severely opposes becoming a nuclear power to any extent. It has even signed the Nuclear Ban Treaty which took place in the year of 2007. But this doesn’t mean that the country is not ready for a war. They are well prepared to defend their nation even at severe costs.

1.13) Chile has seen a lot of Public Protests

The country of Chile is a peaceful one. It has a specific ambiance that is unique and calm. But when there is something called ‘Political instability, things will take a huge turn. Even the smallest of entities in Chile have the possibility of getting affected due to this. One such event took place during the year 2019. One of the most famous protests to go down in history.

The true republic of Chile versus its very own government. The people of Chile started to oppose the actions of the Government due to unfairness. It all started with the rise in train fares. Which soon got linked with a rising cost of living. It was a domino effect where a lot of other aspects related to living were also affected negatively. Unattended issues like workplace discrimination and unfair pay were brought to light by some of the brave ones who were waiting to shout out their struggles.

All these tensions got consolidated and burst out into fumes one day. This made the whole government stumble and forced them to find a solution. Later, the people of Chile were satisfied through several favorable decisions, concessions, and promises.

1.14) The Deadliest Regime of Chile

Chile has seen quite a few significant horrors since its origination. One such horror happened when the Pinochet regime came into action. Headed by the infamous general Augusto Pinochet, the Pinochet regime ensured about one single thing. To get power by force when it is not given willingly.

General Pinochet and his followers started to follow a dictatorship rule during the year 1973 which nearly lasted two whole decades. General Pinochet started to kill anyone who challenged him politically. About 73 innocents were killed within a single month due to the acts of the Pinochet regime. The list of innocent victims grew day by day. About 40000 victims were recorded to have faced death due to the violent acts of the regime year after year. An

An additional fact here is that the list even included children who were below the age of 12. Women were no exception. What makes this even more horrifying is that several reputed countries supported the rule of Pinochet for their very own benefit. The idea of Communism was well-opposed during that time. Pinochet killed two kinds of people. Average citizens who were innocents and communist protestors who fought back against the government.

Most of the countries didn’t oppose Pinochet because they saw him as an eradicator of Communists and their ideas. The regime was later put to an end by the voting session of the year 1990. Several years later, Augusto Pinochet, the man behind the regime’s formation was said to have committed suicide. Some of the controversies even state that he was assassinated due to severe opposition.

These are some of the most interesting facts about Chile. The land of Chile is filled with a lot of exciting places which might give you the best experiences possible. Chile is also rich in history and culture as well, making it one of the best places to study and explore. Feel free to check out the additional content 10 Fun Facts about Chile, brought to you by Icy tales.

Last Updated on July 15, 2024 by Sathi