Chile is a South American country with borders touching Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and the Drake Passage. It has a territory in Antarctica and is led by an elected president. The country has 15 regions, and most Chileans are mestizos with Roman Catholicism as the dominant religion.
The Republic of Chile is a South American country that covers approximately 292,183 square miles (756,950 kilometers). The Andes and the Pacific Ocean flank it on opposite sides. Its other borders are touched by Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and the Drake Passage. In addition to its land in South America, Chile also has a territory in Antarctica, which extends approximately 776,713 miles (1,250,000 kilometers). Its territory includes just over one percent of water.
The recorded history of Chile dates back 10,000 years. It was at this time that Native Americans migrated to the area and established homes there. Much later, in 1520, Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, found a southern passage near the Chilean mainland which was later called the Strait of Magellan. Later in the same century, Spanish conquistadors including Diego de Almagro traveled to Chile from Peru. By 1540, the Spanish conquest of the country was in full force.
While not an easy task, Spain was able to gain a stronghold on Chile. The indigenous people often fought back, causing many setbacks and delays. In the late 1800s and first half of the 1600s, indigenous people led many uprisings. However, it wasn’t until 1818 that Chile was led to independence by a patriot named Bernardo O’Higgins. On February 12 of that year, Chile reclaimed its status as an independent republic.
Today, an elected president leads the government of Chile. The country’s president is not constitutionally permitted to serve consecutive terms. The country also has a two-branch congress which includes a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. Senators are constitutionally allowed to serve an eight-year term while deputies are limited to four years at a time. The headquarters of the Congress is located in the city of Valparaiso.
Chile has 15 different regions, and each has a president-appointed intendant who serves as the head of the region. Regions are divided into provinces headed by governors appointed by the president. The division of lands does not stop there, as the provinces are each divided into municipalities. Each municipality has an administrative municipality which has a mayor and councilors who are elected every four years.
Most Chileans are mestizos, meaning they are a mix of European and American Indian ancestry. About five percent are Native American. The dominant religion in the country is Roman Catholicism, with about 89 percent of the population practicing it. Another 10% can be classified as Protestant while XNUMX% are Jewish. Spanish is the official language of Chile.
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