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INTRODUCTION
Chile, originally a Spanish colony, became
independent in the year 1810. The country is rich in mineral resources and today figures among the leading exporter of copper.
Location of Chile
Chile is bound on the north by Peru, on the east by Bolivia and Argentina, and on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. It has an extreme northern-southern length of approximately 4,270 km, but its average width is less than 180 km.
Flora And Fauna of Chile
The northern region, which is very dry and a desert region, has vegetation such as brambles and cacti. The Central Valley is more humid and supports several species of cacti, espino, grasses, and the Chilean pine, which bears edible nuts.
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Dense rain forests are located south of Valdivia with laurel, magnolia, false beech, and various species of conifers. In the extreme south, a steppe vegetation of grasses is found.
Animal life is made up of mammals like llama, alpaca, vicuņa, guanaco, puma, Andean wolf, huemal (a large deer), pudu (a small deer), and the chinchilla. Birds of different variety are also found and apart from trout, the lakes of Chile have few freshwater fish. However, the coastal waters have abundance of fish and marine animals.
Physical Map of Chile
The dominant physical feature of Chile is the Andes Mountains, which extend the entire length of the country, from the Bolivian plateau in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south. Actually, the country can be divided longitudinally into three topographic zones - the lofty Andean cordillera on the east; the low coastal mountains on the west; and the plateau area, which includes the Central Valley, between these ranges. As per latitude, it can be divided into three geographical and climatic regions - the northern, central and southern regions. Many rivers flow through Chile and most of them are relatively short, generally rising in the Andes and flowing west to the Pacific.
Climate of Chile
Chile experiences varied climates. Winters are mild, and summers are relatively cool. Rainfall generally occurs in the winter months, i.e., from May to
August. The northern region is almost entirely a desert and is one of the driest areas in the world.
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