Chile Essay

The Republic of Chile, or Chile, is a South American country. It can be found west of both Bolivia and Argentina and south of Peru. It is a Southern Cone country, one that is south of the Tropic of Cancer, as well as a coastal country. Chile holds the title of longest north-south country in the world, stretching north to south approximately 2,670 miles and from east to west, only 217 miles (as cited in Wikipedia, 2013). Due to its geographical location, Chile has a remarkable climate and landscape. Earlier in Chilean history, according to the Central Intelligence Agency, the Inca controlled its northern portion, while central and southern regions were held by the Mapuche (n.d.). In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors arrive, probing the

It is proclaimed to be one of the most stabilized and well-suited countries of South America. In 2010, Chile joined OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), an organization to stimulate trade and increase economic progression, making it the first county in South America to do so. All of which is cited in Wikipedia (2013, para. 1-2). Additionally, according to Bilbao-Osorio (2013), from the World Economic Forum, Chile is among Latin America's top five most competitive countries (Chile section). The government plays a limited role in the economy, offering little regulation. So with the accolades the question that comes to mind is: “how has Chile become one of the most prosperous countries in its region?” To answer this, Chile has invested in foreign trade. Policies have been made to allow foreigners to participate in its growing economy. Chile currently holds a plethora of trade agreements with other countries (“Chile: Introduction-Economy”,

The people of the country are multi-ethnical, meaning that individuals hail from various backgrounds. Of the 17 million people that populate Chile, a majority (93%) is Mestizos (a mix of ancestry), 3% are pure Native Americans, and unmixed Europeans represent 2% (“Chile,” n.d.). Spanish is the official language of Chile. But there are several prevalent native languages. (“Living in Chile,” n.d.). Also, as a second language in metropolitan areas, German is spoken. In addition, Wikipedia (2013) mentions, Chileans speak English, which was brought upon by English Open Doors, programs implemented to improve English and make it more accessible to students in Chile (Language section, para. 3). To continue, Chile is a predominately Roman Catholic country. Nonetheless, Chile has a Constitution, like that of the United States, which provides freedom of religion along with the separation of church and state. Chile, itself, is very unique, with its music, literature, arts, and cuisine, distinct from all others. To talk more on Chilean food, it reflects its location. Dishes of the country encompass seafood, fruit, vegetables, and beef of the country. Cuisine is a combination of both Spanish traditional, indigenous ingredients and European styles brought to the country in earlier days. Chileans usually eat four times a day, meaning that food is of importance to