Teach English Abroad > Chile Pat Sur Year > Country Info

Country Info

 

Chile is a long, narrow country, extending 2,700 miles from the border with Peru in the north to Tierra Del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. Chile is sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, never more than 110 miles wide. It contains the most arid desert in the world in the north, and lush forests and fertile farmland in the Mediterranean-like central region. In the south, it boasts spectacular snow-capped mountains with glaciers, fjords and volcanoes, including 55 active ones; natural threats include earthquakes and tsunamis. Chile also has islands extending westward into the Pacific (the most famous of which is Easter Island), and a section of Antarctica.

Historically, the ancient Incan civilization extended as far south as Antofagasta in northern Chile, while the Mapuche people traditionally lived in southern Chile. Most Chileans today are mestizo, mixed descendants of the Spanish colonizers and the indigenous people. The population is generally conservative and the Catholic Church holds great influence.

Santiago is both Chile’s capital and largest city. According to the 2002 census, Santiago is home to 40 percent of Chile’s population, who live in 32 comunas or boroughs. Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541 and built it based on a traditional Spanish checkerboard pattern that can still be seen to this day. Thanks to its geography, Santiago has a Mediterranean climate with dry, hot summers (December through March) and cold, wet winters (June through September). Santiago is the financial, business and governmental center of the country, and is home to a large number of universities, museums and cultural venues.

Unique Challenges for Chile Pat Sur Volunteers


Both placements in Futaleufu and Palena are very remote. Volunteers living in Patagonia will be unable to easily navigate between their town and the larger outside world. Though buses do come through Futa and Palena on their way up north, these generally only pass through once each week which makes quick weekend trips nearly impossible. Getting from northern Patagonia to the capital of Santiago will take more than 24 hours by bus and usually requires a border crossing into Argentina. Volunteers in Patagonia have excellent cell phone service and internet so connecting with the outside world is not difficult.

In addition to possessing a proficiency in Spanish, volunteers must also have a background in environmental studies or environmental education to be considered for this program. 

Web Resources for Chile

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