Interesting facts about Chile that will surprise you

Chile is renowned as a travel paradise in South America, offering stunning landscapes and many delightful surprises.

Land of Vineyards

Chile is recognized worldwide as one of the top wine-producing countries, ranking fourth in export volume, following France, Italy, and Spain. Each year, this nation produces approximately 1.3 billion liters of wine.

Alcohuaz Vineyard is located in the Elqui Valley, at an altitude of 1,750 to 2,206 meters above sea level. The vines here are irrigated with meltwater from the mountains. (Photo: Juan Ernesto Jaeger).

Famous Cherries

In 2020, Chile set a Guinness record for the largest cherry in the world, weighing nearly 24 grams.

Chile is the world’s number one exporter of cherries. In the past decade, a total of 1,158,000 tons of cherries have been sold, with over 60% sold in Asia. In 2020, Chile set a Guinness record for the largest cherry in the world, weighing nearly 24 grams.

Santiago Tower

This tower stands 300 meters tall with a total of 64 floors, making it the tallest skyscraper in South America and the second tallest in Latin America. From the observation deck of this tower, visitors can admire the magnificent Andes Mountains as well as the entire city of Santiago.

The primary materials used to construct Santiago Tower include steel, concrete, glass, and aluminum. The structure is designed to withstand high-intensity earthquakes and strong winds, with the top of the tower capable of tilting up to 35 cm.

Flowering Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is recognized by experts as the driest place on Earth, with an annual rainfall of only about 1.5 cm. However, in July, this desert bursts into a sea of flowers, creating a magnificent sight for visitors.

Due to the impacts of climate change, the phenomenon of blooming flowers in the Atacama Desert is occurring more frequently than before. (Source: El Universo)

Chile: Birthplace of Great Writers like Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda

In addition to teaching and writing, Gabriela Mistral was the first Chilean woman to serve as Consul. In 1932, she was appointed as Chile’s Consul in Naples, Italy.

These two representatives are notable, having won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945 and 1971, respectively. Gabriela Mistral was the first woman from the Iberian community in the Americas and the second Latin American woman to receive this award.

Dominador Solar Power Plant

This plant, located in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile, was inaugurated in 2021 and covers an area of over 700 hectares, with 10,600 solar panels transmitting energy to a 252-meter-high receiving tower. It is expected that this plant will reduce environmental emissions by 400,000 tons of CO2 annually, and the entire complex will help cut 630,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

Dominador will become the largest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant capable of storing electricity in Latin America.

Star Village – Antarctic Research Station

This is one of two civilian areas located in Antarctica, part of the Eduardo Frei Montalva Base, which includes a school, a hospital, a post office, a bank, and a church.

Star Village was established in 1984 and is a research station under the Antarctic Municipality, Magallanes and Antarctic region of Chile.

A Historic Meeting

On the morning of May 23, 1969, at the Presidential Palace, President Ho Chi Minh welcomed a delegation from Chile led by the President of the Senate (and later President of Chile) Salvador Allende. Before parting, President Ho Chi Minh presented each guest with a photograph of himself with the inscription “Warm greetings and victory.” Later, when he became the President of the Republic of Chile, Salvador Allende placed the photo of Uncle Ho on his desk at the La Moneda Presidential Palace.

Five years after the historic meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Hac Bong presented his credentials to President Salvador Allende. (Source: The World & Vietnam Newspaper).

World’s Highest Active Volcano

Located in northern Chile, Ojos del Salado is a stratovolcano rising 6,893 meters and is the highest active volcano in the world.

Situated in the Atacama Plateau in northern Chile, it has a very arid climate, with snowfall occurring only in winter and at the peak. No eruptions have been recorded from this volcano.

Easter Island and its Guardian Spirits

According to local legend, the Moai statues represent the ancestors and important leaders of the Rapa Nui people, and they believe that after death, these individuals have the ability to emanate supernatural powers to protect the tribe. Therefore, the statues are placed facing away from the sea and towards the land of the tribe.

The Moai statues consist of three parts: a large body made of yellow stone, a head wearing red hats called Pukao, and white eyes made from coral.

The Oldest Mummies in the World

The first Chinchorro mummy discovered was a boy.

The oldest mummies in the world were found in Chile. In the northern region of the Camarones Valley, mummies from the Chinchorro culture have been discovered, dating back to 5050 BC.

Stunning Skies

The northern skies of Chile are considered the most pristine and cleanest on the planet for observing celestial bodies, making this area an ideal location for scientific research. As a result, most observatories in the world are located in Chile, including notable ones like Paranal, ALMA, and La Silla. Currently, over 40% of the facilities for astronomical observation are located in Chile, and this number is expected to reach 60% in the next decade.

La Silla Observatory, part of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), is located on the edge of the Atacama Desert, 600 km north of the capital Santiago. (Source: Marca Chile).

Torres del Paine National Park

This park, located in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic region of southern Chile, is renowned for its towering cliffs and massive granite mountains, naturally shaped by glacial flows. It has been recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).

Torres del Paine National Park won the award for “Most Attractive Natural Tourist Destination” in South America at the latest World Travel Awards, which is also known as the “Oscars of the Tourism Industry”.

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