 A
three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a
dictatorial military
regime led by Augusto Pinochet, who ruled until a freely
elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies,
first
implemented by the Pinochet dictatorship, led to unprecedented
growth in 1991-97 and have helped secure the country's commitment
to democratic and representative government. |
| More... |
Chile
is situated in South America, bounded by Peru, Bolivia, Argentina,
the Antarctic and the Pacific Ocean. Home of the Andes mountain
range, it is a thin ribbon of land, 4200km (2610 miles) long and
nowhere more than 180km (115 miles) wide. Arica, near the northern
border with Peru, is an excellent tourist centre. It has good beaches
and the famous San Marcos Cathedral. Chile's central region and
the islands feature the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, rolling
green fields, vineyards and orange groves. The modern capital city,
Santiago, has a good range of hotels to suit all tastes and pockets.
Easter Island, west of the mainland, is famous for the Moai, gigantic
stone figures found all over the island. National dishes include
empanada (meat, chicken or fish, with onions, eggs, raisins and
olives inside a flour pastry) and humitas (seasoned corn paste,
wrapped in corn husks and boiled). Chile is, of course, famous
for its wine and pisco is a powerful liqueur also distilled from
grapes. |
.... Click Here....
