The Republic of Chile is a country in South America. The very long country is wedged between the Andes mountains and the pacific mountains. It borders Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Chile has been inhabited by Native Americans for 10,000 years. The Incas briefly tried to settle the area, but did not stay. In 1540 Spanish conquistadors started to come in from Peru to the north. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic and it's Constitution was approved in a highly irregular national plebiscite in September 1980. Chile's political situation has never really achieved long term stability and the country has seen economic improvements for the last three decades although the economy of the country have had crises. Compared to the West the situation of the country and many of its inhabitants is not good. Because of the north to south elongation the climate shows great variation and if the territories in Antarctica claimed by Chile are included this is even more true.

Inhabitants: 16,6 million
Area: 756,950 km2
Capital: Santiago (6,402,552)
Languages: Spanish
Religion: Catholic
GDP per capita: $12,983
Government: Democratic republic
Climate: Temperate, but varies