Official Name: Republic of Chile  

Capital: Santiago   

Area: 756,950 km2  

Government: Republic  

Population: 16,763,470 (June 2008 est.)  

Ethnic groups:  65% Castizo, 30% White (Spanish, German, others), 5% Indigenous, (Mapuche, others)  

Time Zone: Because of the distance between the mainland and Easter Island, Chile uses 4 different UTC offsets: The mainland uses UTC-4, and in summer as daylight saving time UTC-3. *Easter Island uses UTC-6, and in summer as daylight saving time UTC-5.   GDP (PPP) 2008 estimate  -  Total $246.482 billion   Per capita: $14,688   Inflation: 3%      

Currency (code): Peso    

Exchange rates: Chilean pesos per US dollar - 691.433 (2003), 688.936 (2002), 634.938 (2001), 535.466 (2000), 508.777 (1999)   Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower        

Key Industries: Copper refining, nitrate products, iron smelting, steel production, oil refining, cement and various building materials, chemicals, timber and pulp, furniture and various wood products, a wide variety of food products, meat packing, fish packing, fish products, sugar, wine, beer, textile, clothing, and leather.    

Exports - partners: US 16.2%, Japan 10.5%, China 8.6%, South Korea 4.7%, Mexico 4.3%, Italy 4.2% (2003)     

Official languages: Spanish  

Religion: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish negligible  

Geography: A long and narrow coastal Southern Cone country on the west side of the Andes Mountains, Chile stretches over 4,630 kilometers (2,880 mi) north to south, but only 430 kilometers (265 mi) at its widest point east to west. This encompasses a remarkable variety of landscapes. It contains 756,950 km² (292,260 sq mi) of land area.  

The northern Atacama Desert contains great mineral wealth, primarily copper and nitrates. The relatively small Central Valley, which includes Santiago, dominates the country in terms of population and agricultural resources. This area also is the historical center from which Chile expanded in the late nineteenth century, when it integrated the northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in forests, grazing lands, and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands. The Andes Mountains are located on the eastern border. Chile is the longest north-south country in the world, and also claims 1,250,000 km² (482,628 sq mi) of Antarctica as part of its territory. However, this latter claim is suspended under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty, of which Chile is signatory.  

Chile controls Easter Island and Sala y Gómez Island, the easternmost islands of Polynesia, which it incorporated to its territory in 1888, and Robinson Crusoe Island, more than 600 km (373 mi) from the mainland, in the Juan Fernández archipelago. Easter Island is nowadays a province of Chile. Also controlled but only temporally inhabited (by some local fishermen) are the small islands of Sala y Gómez, San Ambrosio and San Felix. These islands are notable because they extend Chile's claim to territorial waters out from its coast into the Pacific.   

Climate: The climate of Chile comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a large geographic scale, extending across 38 degrees in latitude, making generalisations difficult. According to the Köppen system, Chile within its borders hosts at least seven major climatic subtypes, ranging from desert in the north, to alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and south east, humid subtropical in Easter Island, Oceanic in the south and mediterranean climate in central Chile. There are four seasons in most of the country: summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August), and spring (September to November).      

Finance and Banking: Banks are open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  

Some banks will not allow you to open an account unless you are a permanent resident in Chile. You must be at least 21 years old to open an account, unless you present permission from a parent or guardian. Banks will also require you to present proof of a stable job, a sound financial record and the minimum income.     

For checking accounts, banks impose a per check fee. You will be asked to present your Chilean Identification Card and give your telephone number when you write a check. Do not bounce checks! Chile has severe penalties for bounced checks.   

Taxes: Chile has three tax categories: First Category, Second Category and Additional Tax. First Category taxes apply to businesses and independent or freelance professionals. It is usually around 15 percent, but varies according to income bracket. Second Category taxes apply to employees of companies. The percentage rate also varies according to income bracket. Additional Taxes are levied to non-resident independent businesses and employees thereof.Credit cards and cash: All banks in Australia offer customers cash and debit cards. Australia has popular, secure and efficient credit card systems which are distinguished by low, not high, credit card interchange fees.         

Telecommunications:

-Telephones - main lines in use: 3.467 million (2002)

-Telephones - mobile cellular: 6,445,700 (2002)

-Telephone system: general assessment: modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilitiesdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stationsinternational: country code - 56; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

-Radio broadcast stations: AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)

-Radios: 5.18 million (1997) -Television broadcast stations: 63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

-Televisions: 3.15 million (1997)

-Internet country code: .cl

-Internet hosts: 202,429 (2003)

-Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (2000)

-Internet users: 3.575 million (2002)    

Medical facilities: Medical care, though generally good, may not meet Western standards, especially in remote areas.  Although emergency rooms in some major hospitals accept credit cards, many doctors and hospitals in Chile expect immediate payment in cash.  Prescriptions written by local doctors and over-the-counter medicines are widely available.  Air pollution is a major source of health concern in Santiago, resulting in severe bronchial ailments affecting infants, small children and the elderly.  The most severe air pollution occurs during the winter (May through August). Additional information on air quality levels is available at the National Air Quality Information Service (SINCA) web site - www.sinca.conama.cl.   The ozone layer is especially thin at the bottom of the world.  Travelers should take proper precautions to protect themselves from ultraviolet radiation.        

Crime: Crime rates are low to moderate throughout Chile and are moderate in Santiago, Valparaiso, and other major cities.  American citizens visiting Chile should be as careful in cities as they would be in any city in the United States.  There have been few violent crimes committed against Westerntourists.  However, Western tourists are at a heightened risk for pick-pocketing, purse or camera snatching, and theft from backpacks and rental cars.  Such crimes have been reported in all areas of Chile frequented by tourists. 

In Santiago, visitors should be especially alert to the possibility of crime at the Plaza de Armas and the Mercado Central; at major hotels and restaurants in the Las Condes, Vitacura, and Providencia areas, and in the Suecia and Bellavista entertainment districts.  In Valparaiso, visitors should be especially alert in the port and adjoining tourist areas.  Tourists using taxis in Santiago should be alert to possible scams involving currency switching.  Tourists should also be especially alert while using public transportation, such as the Santiago Metro Subway and public buses and while in the vicinity of Metro stations and bus terminals. The emergency number for the police (Carabineros) is 133.   

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available.  Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law.  In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.  

Traffic & Driving in Chile:  While in a foreign country, Visitors may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in their home country.  The information below concerning Chile is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.  

Driving in Chile is on the right-hand side of the road.  Traffic laws in Chile differ from traffic laws in some other countries in some respects.  Right-hand turns are generally prohibited at red lights unless otherwise posted.  Seat belts are mandatory. Several modern toll highways have recently been opened in and around Santiago, dramatically improving transit into and through the city.  Major roads are generally in good condition throughout the country.  Some secondary roads, however, may be poorly maintained.  At night, occasional heavy fog in rural areas may lead to vehicle accidents with occasional deaths and injuries.  Care should be taken while driving in the mountains because the roads tend to have many tight switchbacks and may not have guardrails.  Chains are often required and should be used on mountain roads during the winter.  Many major highways in Chile are toll roads; drivers should carry a sufficient amount of local currency to cover the tolls.  The new major highways in and around Santiago generally collect tolls through use of an electronic transmitter issued by the concessionaire and placed on the vehicle.  “Day passes” may be purchased separately.  Vehicles rented at Santiago airport generally are equipped with the electronic transmitter and the rental car companies charge a surcharge for its use.  Some major arteries remain under construction in Santiago and drivers should be alert for detours and delays. Information on the major highways in the Metropolitan Region requiring an electronic transmitter is found at www.concesiones.cl.  

Throughout Chile, care should be exercised when changing lanes or merging because many drivers do not signal lane changes and rarely yield to merging traffic.  Many Chilean drivers exceed posted speed limits, do not maintain safe distances, and do not observe posted road signs.  Buses are especially aggressive in moving between lanes.  Speeding is common, including in urban areas.  Traffic jams and detours in Santiago and other areas are common.  Taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.  Drivers should drive with car doors locked at all times, especially in the southern parts of the city and near the airport, as there have been reports of thieves entering cars stopped at traffic lights or moving in slow traffic.  In Santiago, certain major arteries switch directions during morning and evening rush hours.  Visitors to Santiago should obtain up-to-date information on these changes from their auto rental company or the Chilean Automobile Association (please see below).  Visitors that wish to use the public bus and subway system in Santiago should visit the following websites for information on purchasing a “BIP” card, a prepaid ticket required for public buses, routes and other helpful information regarding the public transportation systems: www.transantiagoinforma.cl; www.metrosantiago.cl and www.micros.cl.  

Driving under the influence of alcohol in Chile is severely punished, and can result in incarceration if the driver is involved in an accident. In accidents involving injuries or death, police may detain both drivers for many hours.   

Visitors must have an international driver’s permit in order to drive legally in Chile. The international driver’s license must be obtained in the United States before traveling to Chile.   Although car rental firms may rent to customers with only a U.S. driver’s license, the police fine foreigners for driving without a valid international permit.