Capital: Santiago.
Official Language: Spanish.
Official Name: Republica de Chile (Republic of Chile).
Area: 292,258 sq. mi. (756,945 sq. km). Greatest
distances--north-south, 2,650 mi. (4,265 km); east-west, 265 mi.
(427 km). Coastline--3,317 mi. (5,338 km).
Elevation: Highest--Ojos del Salado, 22,572 ft. (6,880 m) above sea
level. Lowest--sea level.
Population: Estimated 1996 population--14,436,000; density, 49
persons per sq. mi. (19 per sq. km); distribution, 84 percent
urban, 16 percent rural. 1992 census--13,348,401. Estimated 2001
population--15,461,000.
Chief Products: Agriculture--wheat, beans, sugar beets, grapes,
potatoes, corn, apples, beef cattle, oats, citrus fruits, peaches,
rice, nuts, poultry, barley, sheep. Fishing industry--jack
mackerel, sardines, anchovettas. Manufacturing--food products,
chemicals, iron and steel, beverages, paper products, textiles,
transportation equipment, metal products, wood products, clothing,
cement. Mining--copper, sodium nitrate, molybdenum, petroleum,
gold, silver, manganese, iron ore, natural gas, lithium.
National Anthem: "Cancion Nacionale de Chile" ("National Song of
Chile").
National Holiday: Independence Day, September 18.
Money: Basic unit--peso. One hundred centavos equal one peso. For
the price of the peso in U.S. dollars, see MONEY (Table: Exchange
Rates). See also PESO.
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