Overview: A Chilean legend maintains that after God had created the
wonders of the world he had many pieces leftover. He had raging
rivers, sprawling glaciers, valleys and soaring mountains,
snow-capped volcanoes, sparkling lakes, beautiful forests and
deserts, icy fjords and sandy beaches. Rather than let all this
beauty go to waste, he put them together in a remote part of the
world, and so Chile was born. A long narrow strip making up the western part of South
America's tail, Chile is 2,610 miles (4,200km) in length and at
most 115 miles (180km) wide. Travellers are drawn to this country
because of its multitude of natural attractions, from the northern
deserts to the Lake District, mountains and fjords of Patagonia in
the south. Chile is home to some superb National Parks, including
the famous and mysterious Easter Island, and numerous activities
for outdoor enthusiasts. Chile's European colonial heritage is evident throughout the
country and travellers here are likely to feel more familiar with
its culture than those of the neighbouring countries, with their
strongly indigenous lifestyles. There are still local traditions
persisting in parts of Chile however, and together with the
European influence this makes for an interesting juxtaposition,
providing a distinctive culture. The people are resilient, cordial
and warm, from the fashionable capital city of Santiago to the
isolated island of Chiloé, and Chilean hospitality is renowned. Besides natural beauty and an interesting blend of cultures,
Chile offers the visitor excellent wines and seafood, unique
handicrafts and shopping, and a variety of characteristic
architecture, making it a beautiful and memorable place to
visit.
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