Chile
_{December 2001 - Chile and Argentina}

_Capital

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Santiago de Chile

_Area

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756,950 km²
(18x the Netherlands)

_Time

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UTC -4

_language

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Spanish

_{Highest point}

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Ojos del Salado - 6,880 m

_Flag

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Chilean independence was declared on February 12, 1818. At the same time the new flag was adopted. The star represents the pursuit of progress and honor. Blue symbolizes the sky, white represents the snow-covered Andes and red represents the blood that was spilled during the struggle for independence.

_Itinerary

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_Currency

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In 1851, the Spanish escudo was replaced by the Chilean peso. Depicted the banknote is Captain Ignacio Carrera Pinto, captain of a 77-man company who had to defend the city of La Concepcion during the war with Peru. He was killed in an attack by 400 Peruvian soldiers when the last remaining Chilean soldiers attacked the Peruvians with only their bayonets.

_Highlights

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You can reach the island of Chiloé by ferry. In the town of Castro you will find stilt houses called Palafitos, they are buit above the water. San Francisco Cathedral has an interior of wood. The current church dates from 1912. Another fine wooden church, Iglesia Santa Maria, is located On the island of Quinchao in the village of Achao. It was built in 1764. It is built of Larch and Cypress. Ask for the key to visit the church. You are not allowed to take pictures inside. At Chepu you'll find the Parque Ahuenco. It mainly consists of wetlands. After an earthquake in 1960 the soil dropped 2 meters and the ocean flowed in.

You can the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine by road from Via Puerto Natales or El Calafate. If you want to spend some nights at the campgrounds or in the refugios, you have to book this well in advance. There are many hiking opportunities in the park. Some popular hikes: From refugio V&eucute;rtice Paine Grande along the lago Grey to refugio Grey, located at the foot of Grey glacier. With a little luck you will see a piece of ice breaking off and turn deep blue. The next day return to refugio V&eucute;rtice Paine Grande. Another hike leads from refugio V&eucute;rtice Paine Grande to Valle del Frances, along lago Skottsberg, crossing a suspension bridge and up the valley along the Cuernos del Paine. For the third hike we went by bus over the very narrow bridge Puente Kusanovic to refugio Las Torres. The Torres are not visible from the refugio. A steep climb leads to the entance of Valle Ascencio. Though the woods you eventually encounter a moraine which leads up to the torres. Finally you get to see the Torres. Perched beside a glacier lake. Torre Sur is 2,850 meters high, Torre Central is 2,800 meters and Torre Norte is 2,600 meter high.

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The city of Puerto Montt is beautifully situated with in the background three volcanoes including the 2,652 meter high Osorno volcano. The city is a starting point for trips to Chiloé Island, the Lake District (Los Lagos) and the South. The fish restaurants in the Angelmo district are famous.

Book a excursion from Puerto Montt to the subtropical rainforest of the Parque Nacional Alerce Andino. The larch in this 39,255 Ha park is threatened with extinction. There are some 50 lagoons. The further you go into the park, the path becomes narrower. By way of the waterfall of the Rio Chaicos you can hike to Laguna Triangulo. There's a chance of finding leeches on your legs here.

The smog in the capital of Chile, Santiago de Chile, obscures the view of the high peaks of the Andes but that's not what the Spaniard Pedro de Valdivia saw when he founded the city in 1541. Today the city has more than 4 million inhabitants. The Cathedal Metropolitana on the Plaza de Armas in Santiago de Chile is in great contrast with the glass tower behind it. When you go inside the cathedral you will enter a different world. When visiting Santiago definitely explore it It is the fifth cathedral that is built on this location. The first was lost to fire after an attack by Indians on the newly founded city. The other 3 were destroyed by earthquakes in 1552, 1647 and 1730. Construction of the current cathedral began in 1747. The Mercado Central, a large steel structure nearby, is a covered market where you can eat delicious fish. Originally built in England, In 1872 it was transported to Santiago de Chile where it functioned as an exhibition hall. Built between 1788 and 1805, La Moneda was originally the mint house. Today it serves as a government building. In 1973 jet fighters of Pinochet's army attacked the building with rockets after which the president, Salvador Allende committed suicide. There are frequent protests in the square in front of La Moneda.