Official Name: Republic of Chile.

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina, Peru and Bolivia.

Population: 14,418,800 inhabitants.

OFFICIAL Languague: Spanish (Castellano).

Government: Santiago is the seat of government while the bicameral Congress holds its sessions in Valpara¨so. For administrative purposes, Chile has been divided into 12 geographical regions, plus the Metropolitan area, and the country is developing towards decentralization for national administration.

Area: 756,950 sq. km (includes Isla de Pascua and Isla Sala y G¨®mez); 748,800 sq. km (continental area).

Coastline: 6,345 km.

Major Cities: Santiago, Antofagasta, Valpara¨so, Vi?a del Mar, Concepci¨®n.

Climate: Sub-tropical in the far north; desert in the north; mild winters and hot summers in central Chile; cool and damp in the south; semi-arctic in the far south.

Geography: Low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east.

Natural Resources:
Copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum.

Main Economic Activities:
Agriculture, mining, forestry, fishing, manufacturing.

Main Exports: Copper, gold, silver, fresh fruit, lumber products, fish and an increasing variety of manufactured goods.

Unit of Currency: Chilean Peso.