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General Information
Population: Approximately 16.3 million
Capital: Santiago was founded in 1541 by Pedro de Valdivia. Population approximately 7 million.
Official languages: Spanish
Principal Exports: Mining (especially copper), fishing, agriculture, manufacturing
Political Geography: Chile is divided in 13 regions; Aisen del General Carlos Ibáñez del
Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y la Antartida Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso.
Festivals
- January 1: New Years Day
- March or April: Easter and Holy Week
- May 1: Labor Day or Day or the Worker
- May 21: Navy Day
- June 22: Corpus Christi
- June 29: St Peter and Paul
- August 15: Assumption of Mary
- 1st Monday in September: National Reconciliation Day
- September 18: Independence Day
- September 19: Armed Forced Day
- October 12: Columbus Day
- November 1: All Saints Day
- December 8: Immaculate Conception
- December 25: Christmas Day
September brings spring to Chile and with it countrywide celebrations of Chile’s independence from Spain. For days before and after the 18th of September its time to celebrate through traditional music, dances and parades.
Being a predominantly catholic country means that Easter week is a special time to experience Chile. In Santiago thousands attend open air masses and watch the “Passion play” performed on the streets.
Religion has played and continues to have a prominent role in the lives of many Chileans. In February each year the town of Limache, just over 150 km from Santiago, swells to four times its normal population as crowds gather for the “Feast of the virgin of 40 hours”.
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