GEOGRAPHY
The Chilean coast is 4270 km long, from 17° 30´S to 56° 30´S, almost straight down to Long. 74°W. Its territories include part of the American and Oceania continents, and the Antarctic. This vast coast allows a big maritime industry based on a variety of international trade.
Due to this geography, Chile’s climate just about covers the full scope. The North is very dry and predominantly warm, without being tropical. Its main features are the Atacama Desert (which is considered the driest desert in the world) and its mineral resources such as copper. The Centre of the country enjoys a Mediterranean climate and is the main fruit-growing, as well as the main wine-producing area; its other main activities are tourism and services. Towards the South, the weather becomes colder and rainy, allowing for large forest areas. It also has an extensive lake zone; many lakes are used for salmon farming. The extreme South is the most southern inhabited area in the world, surrounded by lots of channels and islands. This is a region of sheep farming and oil extraction.
The Chilean population almost reaches 20 million, half of which live in the centre of the country. For administrative purposes, the country is divided into 16 regions including the Metropolitan Region (with Greater Santiago), capitals of which -from north to south- are: Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, Copiapó, La Serena, Valparaiso, Santiago, Rancagua, Talca, Chillan, Concepción, Temuco, Valdivia, Puerto Montt, Coyhaique and Punta Arenas.
Its main ports are Valparaíso, San Antonio, Talcahuano, Iquique, Antofagasta, Arica, Quintero, Mejillones, Coquimbo, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Vicente, among others.
VALPARAÍSO
The most important port of Chile, 71.77 miles (115.5 kms) distant from Santiago, the country´s capital. Initially, Valparaiso since its foundation in 1544 began to develop as a very important port in south pacific (was called The Pearl of the Pacific), with an increasing volume of trade. Indeed, Valparaiso was the way for all vessels travelling through the Straits of Magellan, west- or east-bound. This brought a number of immigrants to Valparaíso (British, American, German, Italian, French, Yugoslav, etc.), who left their mark in the area, such as the British Arch, the German Club, the George Garland Fire Brigade, the Pompe France, the Scuola Italiana and the Deutsche Schule, just to mention a few. They developed areas such as shipping, industry, finance and insurance.
The opening of the Panama Channel had an impact on the number of vessels arriving at the port, since the route via the Straits now had a shorter alternative.
Valparaiso continues to be very related to shipping and port work and is part of a metropolis called Greater Valparaiso with a current population of more than 1.500. 000 inhabitants.
