Chilean Facts

• Official Name: Republic of Chile.
• Capital: Santiago.
• Population (1992): 13.348.401.
• Major Religion: Roman Catholicism (77%).
• Language: Spanish.
• Literacy: 94 percent.
• Leading Universities: Catholic University of Chile ("PUC", "La Cato", Santiago), University of Concepcion, University of Chile ("La U", Santiago), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH).
  

  GOVERNMENT

• Form of Government: Republic.
• Chief of State and Head of Government: President.
• Legislature: National Congress, composed of Senate with 48 members and Chamber of Deputies with 120 members.
• Voting Qualification: Age 18.
• Political Divisions: 12 regions and the metropolitan region of Santiago;
  • 1st Region of Tarapac� (capital: Iquique);
  • 2nd Region of Antofagasta(capital: Antofagasta);
  • 3rd Region of Atacama (capital: Copiap�);
  • 4th Region of Coquimbo (capital: La Serena);
  • 5th Region of Valpara�so (capital: Valpara�so);
  • 6th Region of Libertador General Bernando O'Higgins (capital: Rancagua);
  • 7th Region of Maule (capital: Talca);
  • 8th Region of B�o-B�o (capital: Concepci�n);
  • 9th Region of La Araucan�a (capital: Temuco);
  • 10th Region of Los Lagos (capital: Puerto Montt);
  • 11th Region of Ais�n del General Carlos Iba�ez del Campo (capital: Coihaique);
  • 12th Region of Magallanes (capital: Punta Arenas);
  • The Metropolitan Region (capital: Santiago).

  
  

  ECONOMY

• Chief Agricultural Products: Crops sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, corn (maize). Livestock sheep, cattle, pigs.
• Chief Mined Products: Copper, iron ore, iodine, molybdenum, natural nitrates, silver, gold, vanadium, lithium, manganese, lead.
• Chief Manufactured Products: Food products, nonferrous metals, chemical products, beverages, textiles, paper and paper products.
• Chief Exports: Copper, molybdenum, iron ore, fish meal, paper and paper products, metal manufactures, fruits and vegetables.
• Chief Imports: Mineral fuels and lubricants, industrial raw materials, trucks, passenger vehicles, foodstuffs, animals.
• Monetary Unit: Chilean peso.

The following are Chile’s legal holidays:

• Jan. 1 New Year’s Day
• Varies Good Friday
• Varies Easter Sunday
• May 1 Labor Day
• May 21 Commemoration of the Battle of Iquique
• Varies Corpus Christi
• June 29 Saint Peter and Saint Paul
• Aug. 15 Assumption Day
• Sep. 18 Independence Day
• Sep. 19 Day of the Army
• Oct. 12 Columbus Day
• Nov. 1 All Saints’ Day
• Dec. 8 Immaculate Conception
• Dec. 25 Christmas Day

http://www.geocities.com/allchile/