12 Enthralling Facts about Chile that Are Fun to Know

Updated On: April 17, 2024 by   Miranne Khaled

Chile is one of the most underrated countries in Latin America. It doesn’t receive the same attention many of its Latin counterparts do although it is home to some unprecedented sights. This South American country is a slice of paradise that’s famous for being the Country of Poets, and this is one of the interesting facts about Chile. Besides, with its unique culture and special traditions, there is no way boredom will find you.

Learn more about Chile

Chile is located in the western part of South America, stretching along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. Nature seems to have left lots of its elements within the borders of this beautiful country. It is one of the Latin lands where the Andes Mountain range stretches along, creating impressive scenes that stun the beholders. It is also the land where the driest desert exists along with several icebergs, glaciers, and active volcanoes.

While Chile has actually received more propaganda compared to the past few years. It is one of the Latin countries that are shrouded with mystery along with stunning sightseeings and views. There are so many things that make Chile a quite unique place that merits a visit and a long stay. 

Walk with us through the most interesting facts about Chile that will urge you to pack and fly there right away. These facts are quite sufficient to give you all the best reasons why you should put Chile on top of your travel list.

1. The Land of Incredible Contrasts

The elements of Mother Nature around this country are ones that take your breath away. Most countries have either a desert nature, mountainous one, or a snowy one. Interestingly, Chile happens to be one of the very rare countries where of those elements exist together, creating wildly jaw-dropping scenes. 

Among the interesting facts about Chile is being home to the world’s driest desert, Atacama, that it shares with Argentina. Moreover, it is also home to the huge lake known as Lake Llanquihue. This lake is known to be the largest in Southern Chile along with the famous Todos los Santos, which is another popular Chilean lake.

Things don’t just end here. In fact, Chile also embraces multiple glaciers, which can be quite impressive given the existence of the world’s driest desert within its borders. The strategic geography of Chile along with its climate allowed it to be home to all kinds of landscapes. 

2. Known as the Country of the Poets

Among the impressive facts about Chile is it has received the title “the Country of the Poets,” for it has always been where the tradition of poetry was highly valued. It also goes by the name “A nation of poets” given that two famous Chilean poets had won Nobel Prizes for their work. Those poets were Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda who managed to make their names symbols of aspirations.

Not only that, but Chile has also held a poetry convention, where plentiful poets from every corner in the world come to enjoy this art. If poetry has ever been your thing, you must have already known about this interesting fact. Anyhow, even if it wasn’t, maybe that is your sign to give the Chilean poetry a shot and visit the country where great artists were born.

3. One of the World’s Longest Countries

South America is full of amazing surprises, unprecedented landscapes, and diverse cultures all that will pique your interest in the best ways possible. Chile is one of the fascinating South American countries that don’t get the hype. However, it is full of more than a few natural elements that are nowhere else to be found and rarely even exist together within the same place. 

While there are lots of fascinating facts about Chile that make it stand out among its South American counterparts, this one makes it on top of the world. In terms of length, Chile is known to be the longest country in the whole world. Chile stretches over a length of 4,300 kilometres, which is the largest distance a country has ever extended over. With such a long distance, it starts to make sense the diverse landscapes it covers along the way.

4. Owns the Biggest Swimming Pool in the World

The Crystal Lagoon is the name of the world’s largest swimming pool ever. It holds the Guinness Record, thanks to its tremendous depth. This pool is located at a resort in Algarrobo, known as San Alfonso del Mar. It is made up of saltwater. 

Despite the mesmerising views and vast spaces of blue water, swimming in this pool is prohibited. Well, you must wonder how many gallons of water it takes to fill a pool that is 115 feet deep and 3,324 feet long? As interesting as it sounds, it is filled with almost 65 gallons of water.

One of the magnificent facts about Chile is not only that it has the largest pool in the world, but also that people perceive it as a fake beach. While swimming isn’t allowed due to an accident that took place before, sailing and sitting by the pool is totally accepted.

5. Best Spot for Stargazing

It is one of the well-known facts about Chile that it owns the driest desert in the world, Atacama. The desert spans over vast landscapes where artificial lights are nowhere to be found nearby, allowing utter darkness to fill the sky. When the sky is at its darkest, the stars light up in the sky beautifully in a way you cannot turn your head away. 

This just happens to be among the interesting facts about Chile; it is home to the best spots of stargazing in the whole world. The skies are clear over this area for most days throughout the year. If you are looking for the best destinations to see the natural lights of the sky, the Atacama desert and Patagonia in Chile are there for you.

6. Has One of the World’s Largest Volcanic Chains

We are not sure if this is one of the facts about Chile that is going to pique your interest, but we are excited to share it anyway. Chile happens to embrace one of the largest volcanic chains around the world. It possesses around 2,000 volcanoes, with 90 of them reported to being active.

Imagine living in a country with 90 potentially active volcanoes? Well, this is something that would definitely make Chile a hotspot for earthquakes. In 2021, a new active volcano, Gran Mate, was discovered in northern Patagonia and it’s something that won’t end any time soon, and that’s according to science. 

Scientifically speaking, volcanoes can induce the occurrence of earthquakes through the magma movement. Also, earthquakes can cause volcanoes to erupt when they are severe. It is a vicious circle that never ends. For that reason, Chile comes second after Indonesia in owning a string of active volcanoes and being prone to more than a few eruptions that may result in dangerous consequences.

7. Pisco is the National Liquor of Chile

Have you ever tried taking a good shot of Pisco? If your answer is no, we ought to warn you that you are missing on a lot. And, if you really had a shot or two of this colourless liquor, then let us entertain you with more interesting facts about Chile and this drink. Pisco is the national liquor of the country. 

Whether you have tried it or not, trying something from the country that serves it the best. While it is native to Spain, Pisco is best sipped on the famous lands of Chile and Peru. It is an experience on its own. Go on a wine tasting tour when traveling down to Chile and have this treat tasted straight from grape brandy.

8. Falls Among the World’s Largest Wine Producers

We were just mentioning Pisco as the national liquor as one of the interesting facts about Chile, yet the drinking journey doesn’t just end here. In fact, Chile is one of the largest producers of wine in the whole world. The evolution of the Chilean wine industry is undeniable that it now produces around 4.4% of the wine in the world.

Maipo Valley happens to be the most prominent wine region around Chile, stretching from the capital city, Santiago, and reaching all the way to the Andes Range. Spanning over a long distance make the region quite accessible from different points around the country. You can embark on a journey down there and have a day trip full of fascinating tasting experiences of plentiful flavours.

9. Embraces Six UNESCO World Heritage Sites

When UNESCO declares specific sites as World Heritage Sites, it means they bear some form of significance, whether a historical, scientific, or cultural one. One of the gripping facts about Chile that makes it even more appealing is that it embraces six of those significant sites. The more UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a country, the higher value it has in culture and history. 

Chile happens to be one of the prominent South American countries, but, given its economically struggling condition, it doesn’t get the hype of many other countries. However, hosting more than a few UNESCO World Heritage Sites puts Chile on a different spot on the map of the best countries with great historical and cultural significance.

We will briefly walk you through the fascinating heritage sites that Chile alone claims. The oldest site to be inscribed by UNESCO is Rapa Nui National Park that is located on Easter Island in the Valparaiso Region. Comes second after the 1995-inscribed park is the Churches of Chiloe that claimed the declaration in 2000 and it is located in Los Lagos Region. Both sites have an architectural significance.

The other four sites are all declared throughout the 2000’s, starting with the Historic Quarter of Seaport City and ending with Qhapaq Nan, the Ancient Andean Road System that was declared in 2014. In between those two come the Sewell Mining Town as well as the colourful Humberstone And Santa Laura Saltpeter Works. We urge you to visit every single one of them; you will have an unforgettable experience and lots of fascinating pictures to show off back home.

10. Has the Tallest Skyscraper in the Continent

South America has been popular over the years for hosting more than a few skyscrapers, with the majority of them found in Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina. Among the fascinating facts about Chile is that it may not embrace as many skyscrapers as its South American counterparts, yet it is home to the tallest skyscraper in the continent, Gran Torre Santiago.

Apparently, the huge skyscraper that reaches for the unlimited skies is located in the capital city of Santiago. Its name is Spanish for the Grand Santiago Tower. This tower consists of 69 storeys that run high above the ground. Its epiphanic height casts a shadow over a whole mile long across the city. 

A building with such height took seven years to be utterly completed, with its construction execution starting in 2006 and completed in 2013. Gran Torre Santiago is the artistic product of the talented Argentinian-American architect, César Pelli. He designed the building in the best way in which it can endure earthquakes and the sudden volcanic eruptions that can shake the core of the Earth. 

The tower can be reached through the entrance gate of the Costanera Shopping Mall. It is relatively easy to access and even if you find yourself a bit confused, just look up and the hypnotising height will definitely guide you. Getting to so many floors above the ground will certainly give you an unobstructed view of alluring scenes to appreciate, ones that stretch for many miles ahead. 

11. La Cueca is the Chilean Version of Tango

The Latin communities are known for their exceptional dancing skills and eccentric body moves that no one can beat. South America is the birthplace of one of the world’s renowned dancing styles, tango. Yet, it is also home to more styles that many parts of the world are not aware of their existence, including La Cueca.

La Cueca is one of the most iconic dances in South America and the official national dance in Chile as declared back in 1979. This ought to be one of the most captivating facts about Chile that will encourage you to visit the country and learn about it for yourself. Not only is the dancing really enjoyable and captivating, but it has long stories embedded in the history and past of Chile.

Originally, La Cueca was a dance with certain body movements that represent the relationship between the rooster and the chicken, with a man and woman symbolising each bird, respectively. It describes the courtship between these two love birds and that is why people refer to La Cueca as the Rooster Courtship. 

While Augusto Pinochet was the one to bring this musical genre into Chile, the dance was used to protest against his dictator ruling when he was brought to power. People were kidnapped and frequently disappeared during Pinochet’s ruling. At that time, the solo dancer movement came into being, where men or women danced on their own without their partners, representing their grief and loss. It was the Chileans’ method to draw the public attention to their oppressed state.

La Cueca tells a lot about the history and politics of the Chilean lands and their rich culture. However, although it is still deemed the national dance of Chile, it is nowadays more common to find in the countryside. It represents the tradition and culture of the country by also making an appearance during the national holidays. People take the opportunity to happily stomp and dance their holidays away.

12. Street Art is Everywhere to be Found

Chileans seem to be natural born artists and that is one of the undeniable facts about Chile. Not only is it the country of the poets, but it is also the land where people use art to voice out their demands and need. La Cueca was one of the artistic methods they used to express themselves and fight for their rights, but it was not the only one, street art was there too. 

Street art and graffiti is a staple that you can see in different corners around the Chileans streets and almost in every city. It has always been a long tradition that the Chileans practiced and it is more obvious around Santiago. 

The scene of street art in Santiago, in particular, shows an advanced evolution of this art throughout the years. Some of them represent some political and historical matters. Others are just purely art that add a colourful edge to the walls of the streets, brightening up every corner and every alley.