Chile is often voted one of the best adventure tourism destinations on earth, and it's easy to understand why. The South American country has some attractions that can only be found in Chile, including the high number of volcanos, the driest desert on the globe, and many hiking opportunities in different regions.
Vacation in Chile demands some planning, but the country is also an excellent destination for wine lovers and travelers interested in history. In every part of Chile, travelers can discover a little of its history, and here are some of the most interesting facts.
9 Chile Was Ruled By A Military Dictatorship Until 1990
During the last century, several countries in South America were ruled by military dictatorships, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. In Chile, the dictator General August Pinochet ruled the country between 1973 and 1990. During that period, up to 3,200 people were killed by the government, 80,000 were internment, and hundreds of thousands were tortured.
Visitors can learn more about what happened at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago. It is undoubtedly one of the most interesting tours in the city.
8 Chileans Are Trained For Earthquakes
Chile is prone to earthquakes, and they have lost thousands of people in the past. The worse earthquake happened in 1960 when 3,000 thousand people were killed, and over two million were left homeless. The country learned how to mitigate the earthquake damages over the decades. They have developed a building code, which is updated after every large earthquake.
Citizens are also trained to know what to do when an earthquake or tsunami occurs. Teachers also have special training to learn the best way to protect children if it happens.
7 Chile Is Home To The Driest Desert On Earth
The Atacama Desert stretches over 160,000 miles and is the driest desert on earth, with an average of 5mm millimeters of rainfall per year. The weather stations in the Atacama have never registered rain in some parts of the desert. According to some sources, there are river beds that have been dry for thousands of years. Calama, one of the main cities in the region, saw the rain for the first time in 1971, after 400 years.
Unlikely what many people may think, the excessive rain in those areas can cause more harm than benefits. In 2018, when rains were documented for the first time in some spots, they damaged the local microbial communities.
6 Chile Is The Land Of Poets
Chile is often described as the país de poetas (lad of poets), and they are not exaggerating, as it's the home country of several highly-valued poets. The Nobel Prize poets Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda were born in Chile, and other great names such as Nicanor Parra, and Gonzalo Rojas are also Chilean.
Neruda was also an important name in politics, as he was close the president Salvador Allende. The poet was also a politician and served as a diplomat.
5 The Country Is One Of The Largest Wine Producers On Earth
The winemaking history of Chile started in the 16th Century when the Spanish colonizers arrived in the country with the first vines. Still, it took hundreds of years for Chilean wine to establish itself as one of the most prolific wine producers in the world. Technology helped winemakers in Chile increase the quality in the 1980s, boosting sales overseas.
Chile is the 6th largest wine producer on earth. The Chilean wine is known for its complexity and range of different styles. Exploring the vineyards is also a popular activity among tourists visiting Chile.
4 They Have The Oldest Mummies Ever Found
Most people think the oldest mummies ever found are in Egypt. In fact, the Chinchorro started to mummify their dead 7,000 years ago, while the oldest Egyptian mummies date from 5,000 years ago. The mummies were found in the Atacama Desert and listed on the Unesco World Heritage List.
Unlike other cultures, mummification was not a privilege limited to particular groups but was common among all people in the community. They have discovered hundreds of mummies until the moment, and they help to understand how those people lived thousands of years ago.
3 Diego de Almagro Was The First Spaniard To Set Foot In Spain
While traveling in Chile, it is possible to notice that several things are named after Diego Almagro, including hotels, parks, streets, and wine labels. He was the first Spaniard to arrive in the country in 1535, where he claimed to have endured great hardships. According to some sources, while crossing the Andes, part of his army froze to death, including many horses.
Almagro is not important only for Chilean history. In Peru, he played a vital role in destroying the Inca empire.
2 The Easter Islands Are Part Of The Chilean Territory
Easter Island is arguably the most isolated place on earth. The island has been part of the Chilean territory since 1888, but it is 2,200 miles away from Chile. Although there are direct flights from Santiago, the journey takes nearly five hours. The population on the island is bilingual, speaking Spanish and Rapa Nui.
Less than 5,000 people live on Easter Island, and part of the population descends from Polynesians. In 1995, Easter Island was considered one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites.
1 It's Home To The Tallest Building In South America
Inaugurated in 2012, the Gran Torre Santiago is the tallest building in South America and the second in Latin America, with 64 stories. The 300-meter tower is a shopping complex and
open for tourists and offers an impressive 360° view of Santiago, open year-round.
The Gran Torre Santiago isn't the only construction that impresses by its size in Chile. The country is also home to the largest swimming pool on earth, located in a private resort at SAl Alfonso del Mar.