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Cove Team
Cove Team
Chile is one of the most underrated countries in Latin America. It doesn’t receive the same attention as many of its Latin counterparts, although it is home to some unprecedented sights. This South American country is a slice of paradise 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 many 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 beholder. It is also the land where the driest desert exists, along with several icebergs, glaciers, and active volcanoes.
Chile has received more propaganda compared to the past few years. It is one of the Latin countries shrouded with mystery and stunning sightseeing and views. So many things make Chile a unique place that merits a visit and an extended stay.
Walk us through the most interesting facts about Chile that will urge you to pack and fly there immediately. These facts are sufficient to give you all the best reasons why you should put Chile at the top of your travel list.
- The Land of Incredible Contrasts
The elements of Mother Nature around this country take your breath away. Most countries have either a desert, mountainous, or snowy nature. Interestingly, Chile is one of the scarce countries where both elements exist together, creating wildly jaw-dropping scenes.
Among the interesting facts about Chile is that it is home to the world’s driest desert, Atacama, which it shares with Argentina. Moreover, it is also home to the vast lake, Lake Llanquihue. This lake is known to be the largest in Southern Chile, along with the famous Todos los Santos, another popular Chilean lake.
Things don’t end here. Chile also embraces multiple glaciers, which can be pretty impressive given the world’s driest desert within its borders. Chile’s strategic geography and climate have allowed it to be home to various landscapes.
- Known as the Country of the Poets
Among the impressive facts about Chile is that it has received the title “the Country of the Poets,” for it has always been a place where the tradition of poetry is highly valued. It also goes by the name “A nation of poets,” given that two famous Chilean poets have 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 of the world come to enjoy this art. If poetry has ever been your thing, you must have known this interesting fact. Even if it wasn’t, maybe that is your sign to give Chilean poetry a shot and visit the country where great artists were born.
- One of the World’s Longest Countries
South America is full of incredible surprises, unprecedented landscapes, and diverse cultures, all of which will pique your interest in the best ways possible. Chile is one of the fascinating South American countries that doesn’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 many fascinating facts about Chile make it stand out among its South American counterparts, this one puts it on top of the world. In terms of length, Chile is known to be the longest country in the world. It stretches over 4,300 kilometres, which is the most significant distance a country has ever extended. With such a long distance, it starts to make sense of the diverse landscapes it covers.
- Owns the Biggest Swimming Pool in the World
The Crystal Lagoon is the name of the world’s largest swimming pool. Thanks to its tremendous depth, it holds the Guinness Record. This saltwater pool is located at a resort in Algarrobo called San Alfonso del Mar.
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 enjoyable as it sounds, it is filled with almost 65 gallons of water.
One of the magnificent facts about Chile is that it has the largest pool in the world, which people perceive as a fake beach. While swimming isn’t allowed due to an accident that took place before, sailing and sitting by the pool are acceptable.
- Best Spot for Stargazing
One of Chile’s well-known facts is that it has the driest desert in the world, Atacama. The desert spans vast landscapes where artificial lights cannot be found nearby, allowing utter darkness to fill the sky. When the sky is at its darkest, the stars light up the sky beautifully, and you cannot turn your head away.
This is among the interesting facts about Chile: It is home to the best spots for stargazing in the 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.
- Has One of the World’s Largest Volcanic Chains
We are unsure if this is one of the facts about Chile that will 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 reported to be active.
Imagine living in a country with 90 potentially active volcanoes. Well, this would make Chile a hotspot for earthquakes. In 2021, a new active volcano, Gran Mate, was discovered in northern Patagonia, and it won’t end soon, according to science.
Scientifically speaking, volcanoes can induce earthquakes through magma movement. When earthquakes are severe, they can also cause volcanoes to erupt. 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.
- Pisco is the National Liquor of Chile
Have you ever tried a good shot of Pisco? If your answer is no, we should warn you that you are missing out on a lot. And if you had a shot or two of this colourless liquor, let us entertain you with more interesting facts about Chile and this drink. Pisco is the country’s national liquor.
Whether you have tried it or not, try something from the country that best serves it. While it is native to Spain, pisco is best sipped in the famous lands of Chile and Peru. It is an experience on its own. Go on a wine-tasting tour when travelling down to Chile and have this treat tasted straight from grape brandy.
- 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. Chile is one of the largest producers of wine in the world. The evolution of the Chilean wine industry is undeniable; it now produces around 4.4% of the wine in the world.
Maipo Valley is Chile’s most prominent wine region, stretching from the capital city, Santiago, to the Andes Range. This makes the area accessible across the country. You can embark on a journey down there and have a day trip of fascinating tasting experiences of plentiful flavours.
- Embraces Six UNESCO World Heritage Sites
When UNESCO declares specific sites as World Heritage Sites, it means they bear some form of significance, whether historical, scientific, or cultural. 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 its value in culture and history.
Chile is 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 in 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, located on Easter Island in the Valparaiso Region. Second after the 1995-inscribed park is the Churches of Chiloe, which claimed the declaration in 2000 and is located in the Los Lagos Region; both sites have architectural significance.
The other four sites were declared in the 2000s, starting with the Historic Quarter of Seaport City and ending with Qhapaq Nan, the Ancient Andean Road System proclaimed in 2014. Between those two are the Sewell Mining Town and the colourful Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works. We urge you to visit every single one; you will have an unforgettable experience and many fascinating pictures to show off back home.
- Has the Tallest Skyscraper on the Continent
South America has long been famous for hosting more than a few skyscrapers, primarily 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 tower on the continent, Gran Torre Santiago.
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 mile across the city.
A building of such height took seven years to be 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 to endure earthquakes and 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 guide you. Getting to so many floors above the ground will give you an unobstructed view of alluring scenes stretching for many miles ahead.
- 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 the world’s renowned dance style, 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 of Chile, as declared 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 delightful and captivating, but it has long stories embedded in the country’s history and past.
Originally, La Cueca was a dance with specific body movements representing 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, which is why people refer to La Cueca as the Rooster Courtship.
While Augusto Pinochet brought this musical genre into Chile, the dance was used to protest against his dictatorial rule when he was brought to power. People were kidnapped and frequently disappeared during Pinochet’s rule. At that time, the solo dancer movement came into being, where men or women danced independently 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. Although it is still deemed the national dance of Chile, it is nowadays more common in the countryside. It also represents the country’s tradition and culture by appearing during the national holidays. People take the opportunity to stomp and happily dance their holidays away.
- Street Art is Everywhere to be Found
Chileans seem to be natural-born artists, which is one of Chile’s undeniable facts. Not only is it the country of the poets, but it is also the land where people use art to voice their demands and needs. 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 are staples in different corners of Chilean streets and almost every city. The Chileans have long practised this tradition, which is more evident around Santiago.
The street art scene in Santiago, in particular, shows an advanced evolution of this art throughout the years. Some of it represents political and historical matters. Others are just purely art that adds a colourful edge to the walls of the streets, brightening up every corner and every alley.
