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Chile Facts

Chile Facts

Basic facts and numbers about Chile Capital: 17 million (2011 est.) Official language: Spanish. Other languages such as Aymara, Mapuche, Rapa Nui and Quechua are spoken by minorities. Area: 756,096 square kilometers or 291,930 square miles. 70% Roman Catholic, 15% Evangelical, 1% Jesus Christ of Latter day Saint, 1% Jehova’s Witness. 0.1% Jewish and 8% Atheist or Agnostic. Divorce was illegal until 2004. Currency:  Chilean Peso Life Expectancy:  76 years. Literacy:  96% GDP per capita:  $17,400 (2011 est.) Main Exports: Copper, fruit, … Read entire article »

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Biography of Pablo Neruda

Biography of Pablo Neruda

Green was his favorite color, he always wrote in green as it was the color of hope. Gabriel García Marquez, Colombian novelist, once referred to him as “the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language”. He was a communist who fought for world unity and peace, persecuted in his country and forced to exile, his work is a reflection that safeguards the cultural heritage of Chile and the entire South American continent. Childhood Pablo Neruda’s … Read entire article »

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Works by Pablo Neruda

Works by Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda’s selected work: 1923 – Crepusculario – Book of Twilight 1924 – Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada.  Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. Poem. 1924 – Paginas escogidas de Anatole France. Anthology. 1926 – Tentativa del hombre infinito.  The Trying of Infinite Man. Santiago: Nascimento 1926 – Anillos. Rings. Poem. Santiago: Nascimento. 1926 – El habitante y su esperanza. The Habitant and his hope. Prose. Santiago: Nascimento. 1933 – El hondero entusiasta. Santiago: Empresa Letras. 1933 – … Read entire article »

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Public Holidays in Chile

Public Holidays in Chile

Most are related to religion, in particular the Catholic religion, and historical events. More than 70% of the is Roman Catholic. Over the past few decades the Evangelical and Protestant faiths have been gaining ground accounting for 15% of the population who declare themselves as belonging to those religions according to Chile’s National Statistics Institute (INE). To recognize their increasing importance in 2008 the government established a new official public holiday, Reformation Day, … Read entire article »

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Arts and Literature in Chile

Arts and Literature in Chile

Chile has a remarkable record of artistic and literary achievement considering its relatively small population. Social and political circumstances have had a strong impact on inspiring groups of artists to protest against policies of the regime and rousing strong emotions which translated into works of art and cultural achievement in different fields. Art in Chile works as a reflection that safeguards the cultural heritage of the country. The conquest of Chile by the Spanish and the … Read entire article »

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Chile Holidays and Festivals

Chile Holidays and Festivals

Chile’s holidays and festivals have their roots in historical events and religion. Religion plays an important part in Chilean’s lives, some of Chile’s most important celebrations are based on religion beliefs combining Spanish and Indian tradition. Chileans honor Catholic saints with festivals that usually include processions in which religious statues are carried on the streets, people wear traditional brightly colored costumes and dance to folk music. To recognize the increasing importance of the Evangelical and … Read entire article »

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Food and Cuisine in Chile

Food and Cuisine in Chile

Chilean cuisine varies depending where you are, because of its ecological and climatic diversity there is a great variety of products available in different regions. All the different regional cuisines are a combination of traditional native Chilean dishes and ingredients, European and in a lesser extent Middle Eastern influences, creating the Chilean Creole cuisine. Three distinct cuisines can be distinguished; the cuisine of the North, Central and South. Because of Chile’s long coast seafood is the … Read entire article »

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Chile City Life

Chile City Life

Four out of five Chileans live in cities along the coast. The countryside has seen large exodus of residents looking for a better opportunities in the cities. Most people migrate to but there are not enough jobs or places to live. They settle around the city and many families live in crowded areas called callampas or mushrooms, here they build small shacks where there is no electricity of running water. According to Chile’s National Statistics … Read entire article »

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Chile Population

Chile Population

Chileans are a diverse people whose roots are found in both South America and Europe. The original inhabitants of Chile include the Ona and Yahgan tribes in the south, the Mapuche in the south of the Central Valley and the Atacameno and Diaguita Indians who lived in the Atacama Desert in the north of the country. Today they represent only 4.5% of the population. As the Spanish conquered most of South America many men inter … Read entire article »

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